General and caste census in India: Data collection set for March 2027

NEW DELHI: The comprehensive census process to collect data on the country’s population, as well as social and economic details, will begin on March 1, 2027. A caste census will also be conducted simultaneously. In states such as Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and Union Territories like Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, the census will begin earlier, in October 2026, due to the harsh winter conditions in these regions during March.

The central government had decided on April 30 to collect data on caste and sub-caste details along with the general census. The questionnaires for this will be included as part of the main census process. The last caste census was conducted in 1931 during British rule. The most recent general census in India took place in 2011. Typically, a census is conducted every ten years, so the next one was scheduled for 2021. However, it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.