Archive · 3 Dec 2025
India Announces 2026-27 Census with Caste Enumeration
The Indian government has announced that they will conduct a big count of all the people in the country, called a census, in 2026 and 2027.
This will be the first time they will also count people by their caste, which is a big deal.
The census will happen in two parts.
The first part will be from April to September 2026, where they will list all the houses.
The second part will be in February 2027, where they will count all the people.
Some areas like Ladakh and parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand will do the counting in September 2026 instead.
They will use mobile apps and the internet to collect the information.
A lot of people will be involved in doing this count, about 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors, and around 1.3 lakh census functionaries.
The last time they did a census was in 2011.
India's 2026-27 census will include a first-ever nationwide caste enumeration.
The census will be conducted in two phases: Phase I (April-September 2026) for house listing and Phase II (February 2027) for population enumeration.
Exceptions include Ladakh and certain areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, where Phase II will be in September 2026.
The census will be conducted digitally using mobile apps and online self-enumeration.
Approximately 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors and 1.3 lakh census functionaries will be deployed.
- Who
- Indian government, led by the Union home ministry
- What
- Announcement of the 2026-27 census schedule with caste enumeration
- When
- Phase I: April-September 2026, Phase II: February 2027 (except for certain areas)
- Where
- All over India, with exceptions for Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand
- Why
- To update population data and conduct the first-ever nationwide caste enumeration
Supporters of Caste Enumeration
Opponents of Caste Enumeration
Inclusion of Caste Data
Supporters of Caste Enumeration
Supporters argue that caste enumeration is necessary for understanding social dynamics and implementing targeted policies for marginalized communities.
Opponents of Caste Enumeration
Opponents believe that caste enumeration could reinforce caste divisions and lead to potential misuse of data.
- Schedule
- Phase I: April-September 2026, Phase II: February 2027 (except for certain areas)
- Caste Enumeration
- First-ever nationwide caste enumeration
- Method
- Digital data collection through mobile apps and online self-enumeration
- Personnel
- 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors, 1.3 lakh census functionaries
- Last Census
- 2011
