The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in India has announced plans to conduct the next Population Census in 2027, marking the country’s first national census in 16 years. The decision comes after the 2021 Census was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a gazette notification issued on Monday, the government outlined the details of the upcoming census, which will be conducted in two phases across the country. The notification also specified reference dates for the enumeration process, taking into account the geographical and climatic conditions of different regions.
According to the notification, the reference date for the census will be 00:00 hours of March 1, 2027, for all States and Union Territories. However, for the Union Territory of Ladakh, as well as the snow-bound, non-synchronous areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the reference date will be 00:00 hours of October 1, 2026.
The upcoming census is expected to be the largest administrative and statistical exercise in the world and will be conducted under the Census Act of 1948. The new notification supersedes the earlier one issued in March 2019, signaling the formal beginning of preparations for the 2027 Census.
While the 2011 Census was the most recent one completed, the decadal census cycle was disrupted for the first time since independence due to the pandemic. With the announcement of the 2027 timeline, the government aims to resume normal operations, incorporating technological upgrades and enhanced data precision.
Officials anticipate that the 2027 Census may introduce advanced digital tools for data collection, although specific guidelines and timelines for the preparatory phases are yet to be announced. Stay tuned for further updates as India gears up for its next population enumeration in 2027.
