The Statesman: New Delhi: Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
India’s next Census will run in two stages with digital data collection, separate timelines across states, and detailed demographic surveys, including caste enumeration in the second phase.
Individual information
collected during Census 2027 will remain strictly protected and cannot be
accessed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act or used in court proceedings,
Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner Mritunjay Kumar Narayan said
on Monday.
The assurance comes as the government prepares to begin the next nationwide Census exercise, which will be conducted digitally and in two phases. Census 2027 will be the 16th Census in India and the eighth after Independence.
“Census is a vast task to carry on. Census will be carried out in two phases, and this time the data will be collected digitally. The procedure of the Census is carried out under the provisions of the Census Act 1948 and the Census Rules 1990. Under Section 15 of the Census Act, the individual data is kept confidential. The data cannot be accessed under the RTI or presented as evidence in court. Only aggregate numbers are used for tabulation. Census 2027 is the 16th Census overall and the eighth after independence.”
Census 2027 to be conducted in two phases
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Narayan said the Census will follow provisions of the Census Act, 1948, and Census Rules, 1990. He underlined that Section 15 of the law guarantees the confidentiality of personal data, with only aggregated figures used for official purposes.
The first phase, known as House Listing, will focus on housing conditions, available amenities and household assets. In this first step, no personal information about individuals will be taken.
The second phase, called Population Enumeration, will gather details about people’s background, including social, economic and cultural aspects, along with information on migration and fertility trends. Caste enumeration will also be carried out during this phase.
The reference date for the Census will be 00:00 hours of March 1, 2027. However, for snow-bound areas such as Ladakh and parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the reference date will be October 1, 2026.
Self-enumeration to begin from April in several states
Narayan said self-enumeration will begin between April 1 and April 15 in Delhi and several other regions, followed by the House Listing phase from April 16 to May 15.
Different timelines have been set for some states and Union Territories. In parts of Delhi under the MCD area, self-enumeration will take place from May 1 to 15, followed by House Listing from May 16 to June 14.
He also said the Union
Cabinet has approved an outlay of Rs 11,718.24 crore for the exercise.
Instruction manuals for Phase I have been prepared in 19 languages, and
training of Census officials is currently underway.
Narayan noted that the Census process had earlier been planned for 2021 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
India’s next Census will run in two stages with digital data collection, separate timelines across states, and detailed demographic surveys, including caste enumeration in the second phase.
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| Registrar General Mritunjay Kumar Narayan speaks during a press briefing, stressing that individual Census 2027 data will remain confidential and outside RTI and court access. IANS/PIB |
The assurance comes as the government prepares to begin the next nationwide Census exercise, which will be conducted digitally and in two phases. Census 2027 will be the 16th Census in India and the eighth after Independence.
“Census is a vast task to carry on. Census will be carried out in two phases, and this time the data will be collected digitally. The procedure of the Census is carried out under the provisions of the Census Act 1948 and the Census Rules 1990. Under Section 15 of the Census Act, the individual data is kept confidential. The data cannot be accessed under the RTI or presented as evidence in court. Only aggregate numbers are used for tabulation. Census 2027 is the 16th Census overall and the eighth after independence.”
Census 2027 to be conducted in two phases
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Narayan said the Census will follow provisions of the Census Act, 1948, and Census Rules, 1990. He underlined that Section 15 of the law guarantees the confidentiality of personal data, with only aggregated figures used for official purposes.
The first phase, known as House Listing, will focus on housing conditions, available amenities and household assets. In this first step, no personal information about individuals will be taken.
The second phase, called Population Enumeration, will gather details about people’s background, including social, economic and cultural aspects, along with information on migration and fertility trends. Caste enumeration will also be carried out during this phase.
The reference date for the Census will be 00:00 hours of March 1, 2027. However, for snow-bound areas such as Ladakh and parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the reference date will be October 1, 2026.
Self-enumeration to begin from April in several states
Narayan said self-enumeration will begin between April 1 and April 15 in Delhi and several other regions, followed by the House Listing phase from April 16 to May 15.
Different timelines have been set for some states and Union Territories. In parts of Delhi under the MCD area, self-enumeration will take place from May 1 to 15, followed by House Listing from May 16 to June 14.
Narayan noted that the Census process had earlier been planned for 2021 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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