SRINAGAR: The Union Cabinet on Friday approved Rs 11,718 crore for conducting the Census 2027, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced at a press conference, describing it as the country’s first fully digital census.
Vaishnaw said the Census 2027 would be carried out in two phases: the first phase between April and September 2026 and the second in February 2027. He further confirmed that caste enumeration would be included in this census exercise.
In response to a question by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai detailed that Phase I would cover House Listing and Housing Census, followed by Phase II for Population Enumeration (PE). The first phase will span 30 days, timed according to the convenience of the State and Union Territory governments.
Rai added that the census questionnaire is finalised after consultation with various ministries, departments, organisations, and census data users to ensure comprehensive and accurate data collection.
The digital approach in Census 2027 is expected to improve efficiency, reduce errors, and provide real-time data to aid in policy planning and governance. The census remains a critical tool for understanding India’s demographic trends, informing social and economic policies, and shaping resource allocation across the country.
