Syllabus

GS 1: Population and associated issues

Context: 

The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that the Population Census-2027 will be conducted in two phases, with the inclusion of caste enumeration, marking a significant step in India’s decennial census process.

More on the News

• A notification indicating the intent to conduct the Population Census is expected to be published in the official gazette on 16th June 2025, as per Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948 and the Census Rules, 1990. 
• The census conducted in 2011, was also held in two phases: Phase I (House Listing) from April 1 to September 30, 2010, and Phase II (Population Enumeration) from February 9 to February 28, 2011, with a reference date of March 1, 2011. 

The Phases for 2027 census:

Phase 1: Begins October 1, 2026

• Coverage: Hilly and snow-affected regions:
• Jammu and Kashmir
• Himachal Pradesh
• Uttarakhand
• Ladakh

Phase 2: Begins March 1, 2027

• Coverage: All other parts of the country

The government has not announced any plans to update the National Population Register (NPR) during this Census.

• NPR is a database of 119 crore residents, was scheduled to be updated in 2021.

The first synchronous census in India was held in 1881. Since then, censuses have been undertaken uninterruptedly once every 10 years.

However, this will be the first census since 1931 to collect granular caste data, beyond Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

Digital Census and Enumerator Training

• India will use digital tools and mobile apps for the first time.
• Around 30 lakh enumerators, mostly government school teachers, will be retrained.
• Census will cover 24 lakh enumeration blocks (originally prepared for Census 2021).
• A new drop-down box for caste enumeration will be added next to SC/ST categories in the mobile app.
• Citizens may be allowed to self-enumerate via an online portal.

Delimitation of Constituencies

As per the 84th Constitutional Amendment Act (2001):

• The first census after 2026 will serve as the basis for redrawing Lok Sabha and State Assembly seats.
• The current allocation is based on 1971 census data.

Significance of the Population Census

• Policy Formulation and Planning: Census helps governments design targeted policies in health, education, housing, employment, and welfare.
• Delimitation of Constituencies: Census figures determine the redrawing of Lok Sabha and State Assembly constituencies.
• Social Justice and Inclusion: The inclusion of caste data in Census 2027 will help in identifying socio-economic disparities.
• Benchmark for Other Surveys: It can act as the foundation for all demographic, economic, and social surveys