Caste Enumeration in Census 2027: Government Outlines Timeline and Digital Framework
The Union Home Ministry has provided crucial clarifications regarding the inclusion of caste data in the upcoming Census 2027. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Junior Home Minister Nityanand Rai confirmed that questions pertaining to caste will be finalized and notified as part of the established procedure before the commencement of the second phase of the census operation.
Phased Approach and Historical Context
The government had previously notified its intent to conduct Census 2027 in two distinct phases. The first phase, known as the House Listing Operation (HLO), focuses on collecting information about housing conditions, household assets, and amenities. The second phase, called Population Enumeration (PE), is designed to capture comprehensive demographic, socio-economic, and cultural details of every individual in the country.
According to official records, the questionnaire for the population enumeration stage of Census 2011 was notified by the then UPA government only towards the end of the first stage, specifically on August 31, 2010. This historical precedent indicates that the finalization of questions for the second phase typically occurs closer to its implementation.
As clearly stated in a government press note dated December 12, 2025, caste enumeration is scheduled specifically for the PE phase, which is due to commence in February 2027. Despite this clarified timeline, some opposition parties have raised questions about the government's intent regarding the caste census, particularly questioning why the questionnaire for Phase 1 did not include 'caste' as a field.
Digital Census with Offline Provisions
In response to a separate question, Minister Rai elaborated on the technological aspects of Census 2027. He confirmed that while the census will be conducted as a digital exercise, there will be provisions for offline data collection through mobile applications. Enumerators will primarily use mobile apps, a census management and monitoring portal, and a self-enumeration portal to gather data.
"Only in unavoidable circumstances, enumerators may collect data in paper mode," Rai clarified. "In such situations, the data will be digitized at the charge level itself."
The minister emphasized that enumerators will undertake house-to-house field visits in their allotted enumeration blocks to ensure comprehensive data collection. The provision for self-enumeration serves as an additional facility for respondents to submit their information voluntarily.
Ensuring Inclusivity and Data Security
Rai assured that the house-to-house visit approach by enumerators will help prevent any exclusions on any grounds, thereby promoting inclusivity in the census process. He also highlighted that all suitable security measures have been provisioned for the collection, transmission, and storage of census data to protect citizens' information.
The government had officially notified the questions for the first phase of Census 2027 on January 22, 2026, marking a significant step forward in the preparation for this massive national exercise. The detailed planning for the second phase, including the contentious caste-related questions, continues to evolve within the established procedural framework.
