New Delhi: The Centre has announced that the long-awaited nationwide population census will commence on 1 April 2026, with a significant inclusion for the first time in over 70 years, caste enumeration.
This major demographic exercise will be conducted in two phases under the Census Act, 1948, and the Census Rules, 1990. The reference date for most of the country will be 1 March 2027.
In snow-bound and non-synchronous regions, such as the Union Territory of Ladakh and parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the census process will begin earlier, starting in October 2026.
For these areas, the reference date will be 00:00 hours on 1 October 2026. A formal notification detailing these timelines is expected to be published in the official gazette on 16 June 2025.
The Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed on 4 June that the Census 2026–27 will incorporate caste enumeration, marking a landmark shift in India’s demographic data collection. This development follows an earlier announcement made by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw after a Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs meeting held in April.
Vaishnaw emphasised the importance of uniformity and transparency, noting that “some states have conducted caste surveys transparently, but others have not”. He also added that these inconsistencies have created doubts and could cause transparency issues.
This will be the first population census since 2011. The 2021 Census was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite preparations being completed and fieldwork scheduled to start on 1 April 2020.
The upcoming census is now expected to not only fill this long-standing data gap but also expand the social dataset significantly through the inclusion of caste.
The last comprehensive caste-based enumeration conducted in India was during the British colonial period between 1881 and 1931.
While the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) of 2011, carried out during the UPA government’s tenure, did collect caste-related data, the information was never fully released or officially used in policymaking.
According to the Ministry, “It has been decided to conduct Population Census-2027 in two phases along with enumeration of castes.” The move is expected to have wide-ranging implications on social policy, resource allocation and affirmative action programs.
As one of the largest population enumeration exercises globally, the Census 2026–27 will require enormous coordination between states, UTs and the Centre. The integration of caste data adds a new layer of complexity and significance to the exercise.
With formal preparations now resuming, the government is setting the stage for a transformative demographic undertaking.
