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The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the conduct of the Census of India 2027 at an estimated cost of Rs. 11,718.24 crore.
The Census, regarded as the world’s largest administrative and statistical exercise, will be carried out in two phases. The Houselisting and Housing Census will take place from April to September 2026, followed by Population Enumeration in February 2027. In snow-bound and non-synchronous regions such as Ladakh, parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, population enumeration will be conducted in September 2026.
Around 30 lakh field functionaries are expected to be deployed to complete this massive national exercise. Enumerators, largely government teachers appointed by state governments, will carry out fieldwork alongside their regular duties, supported by officials at sub-district, district and state levels.
For the first time in India, the Census will be conducted digitally, using mobile applications available on both Android and iOS platforms. A dedicated Census Management & Monitoring System (CMMS) portal will enable real-time monitoring, while a Houselisting Block (HLB) Creator web map application will assist officers in planning and execution. Citizens will also be given the option to self-enumerate.
Data collected will be disseminated in a more user-friendly and machine-readable format, allowing policymakers easy access through a “Census-as-a-Service (CaaS)” model. Strong digital security measures have been put in place to safeguard information.
The Census 2027 will cover the entire population of India and include comprehensive data on housing, amenities, demography, education, economic activity, migration and fertility. Importantly, following a decision by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs in April 2025, caste enumeration will also be included in the Population Enumeration phase.
The exercise is expected to generate significant employment, with approximately 1.02 crore man-days created through the engagement of technical and field personnel. Census 2027 will be the 16th Census of India and the 8th since Independence, conducted under the Census Act, 1948.
