Cabinet Clears ₹11,718 Crore For India’s First Digital Census; Two-Phase Census 2027 Begins April 2026

In a major move aimed at modernising India's demographic data system, the Union Cabinet has cleared an allocation of Rs 11,718 crore for Census 2027, setting the stage for the country's first fully digital population count. Announcing the decision, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the funding will support digital infrastructure, mobile app development, and streamlined data-collection mechanisms to ensure accurate and timely population insights in an era of rapid technological change.

The census will be conducted in two major phases. The first phase-House Listing and Housing Census-will take place between April and September 2026, with each state completing the exercise in 30 days to allow flexibility. The second phase, Population Enumeration, will be carried out in February 2027, aligned with a reference date of 00:00 hours on March 1, 2027. Vaishnaw confirmed this two-stage timeline while detailing the rollout.

Digital Census: Apps, Self-Enumeration and Real-Time Oversight

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, addressing the Lok Sabha, explained that Census 2027 marks a complete shift away from traditional paper-based formats. Enumerators will rely on specialised mobile applications, while citizens will have the option to complete self-enumeration through an accessible web portal. A central digital platform will enable real-time monitoring, quality checks, and transparent oversight-creating a more efficient and error-resistant system than previous censuses.

Phase-Wise Execution Across India's Varied Geography

To accommodate India's diverse terrain and climatic challenges, the census schedule has been carefully structured. The House Listing and Housing Census will run between April and September 2026 and conclude within 30 days in each state. The Population Enumeration phase follows in February 2027.

Special adjustments have been made for snow-bound areas-including Ladakh, parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand-where the full exercise will be conducted in September 2026 with a reference date of October 1. This staggered design ensures reliable data collection even in locations where weather conditions pose significant barriers.

Migration Data: A Detailed Look at India on the Move

A key feature of Census 2027 will be extensive tracking of migration, providing critical insights into mobility patterns across the country. Every individual will be enumerated at the place where they are physically present during the exercise. The census will capture details such as place of birth, previous residence, duration of stay at the current location, and reasons for migration, ranging from employment and education to other personal factors.

Responding to questions about migrant workers and temporary residents, Rai clarified that there will be no separate process, since the universal questionnaire-already approved by the Centre and published in the Official Gazette-collects this information at the individual level.

Caste Enumeration to Be Included

Adding a crucial layer of social data, the census will also feature caste enumeration, following the approval granted by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs on April 30. This marks a significant policy step, providing deeper insight into India's social framework through digital precision.

As the country prepares for this tech-driven transformation, Census 2027 is poised to reshape governance and support evidence-based policymaking-from welfare planning to electoral reforms-through its comprehensive, digital-first approach.