The Centre has notified the schedule for the population enumeration phase of Census 2027, which will be conducted from January 25 to February 28, 2027, across most states and Union territories, followed by a revisional round from March 1 to 5.
The census reference date is March 1, 2027, at midnight, meaning individuals alive at that time will be included in the population count.
For the first time, citizens will have the option of self-enumeration from January 10 to 24, ahead of the house-to-house exercise.
The second phase will collect demographic, socio-economic, cultural, migration and fertility details. The Centre has notified 40 questions, including one on caste, covering Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other caste categories.
The schedule excludes certain poll-bound states and snow-bound regions, which will follow separate timelines. Census 2027, the first since 2011, is being conducted in two phases, with caste enumeration included for all communities.
