Couples who consider their partner as a "stable union" in live-in relationships will be counted as married couples during Census 2027, according to an FAQ answer given on the census self-enumeration portal. The authorities state: "If they (the couple) consider their relationship as a stable union, they should be treated as a married couple".
Until now, only legally married individuals were recorded as ‘married’ in the census. However, the government has taken this step in view of changing social realities. This change is expected to help protect the rights of women and children in live-in relationships by providing them official recognition.
A significant number of people in the country live in such relationships. Including them in the ‘married’ category will help the government gather more accurate data on population and family structures.
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The Supreme Court, in several rulings, directed that couples in long-term live-in relationships be granted rights similar to those of married couples. This may have influenced the decision.
The 2027 Census is expected to be digital, allowing citizens to update their information online. With the inclusion of live-in couples, changes are also likely to be made to the census application form.