The Union Home Ministry issued a gazette notification on Monday morning, June 16, announcing the 2027 population census. The population count will be held in two phases: October 1, 2026, and March 1, 2027. According to the notification, the reference date for the 2027 Census across most of the country will be 00:00 hours on March 1, 2027. However, for the Union territory of Ladakh, snow-bound non-synchronous areas of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the reference date will be earlier—set at 00:00 hours on October 1, 2026.
This adjustment was designed to address rough climate and geographic conditions in these regions, which can make census operations challenging during the standard timeframe.
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In the first phase of the census survey, also known as the Houselisting Operation (HLO), data such as assets, family income, housing conditions, and amenities will be collected from each family and household. According to the India Today report, the upcoming census will be India's first digital census, and respondents will be able to answer queries from home.
Population Enumeration (PE), the second phase of the census, will gather demographic, socio-economic, cultural, and other personal information about each person living in the household. For the first time, caste enumeration will also be part of the Census exercise.