Why in News?
India has launched Census 2027, marking a historic shift as the world’s first fully digital national census. The exercise began on April 1, 2026, and plays a crucial role in policy-making, planning, and governance.
Key Highlights of Census 2027
- First-ever fully digital census in the world
- Started on April 1, 2026
- It is the 16th Census of India
- It is the 8th census after independence
- Conducted under the authority of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India
Two Phases of Census 2027
Phase I: Houselisting & Housing Census (HLO)
- Timeline: April 1, 2026 – September 30, 2026
- Purpose:
- Listing all buildings and households
- Collecting data on:
- Housing conditions
- Basic amenities (water, electricity, sanitation)
- Household assets
Phase II: Population Enumeration (PE)
- Timeline: February 2027
- Reference Date: March 1, 2027
- Purpose:
- Collecting individual-level data, such as:
- Age
- Gender
- Education
- Occupation
- Socio-economic details
- Collecting individual-level data, such as:
Background: Census in India
- Conducted every 10 years (Decennial Census)
- First census in India: 1872 (non-synchronous)
- First complete census: 1881 (under British rule)
- Last census: 2011 (2021 census delayed due to COVID-19)
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