India’s upcoming 2027 Census will include caste data for the first time in decades, marking a significant policy shift in data collection.
The decision, announced by government officials on Wednesday, is expected to provide a clearer socio-economic picture of the country’s caste demographics.
The census, scheduled to begin on March 1, 2027, follows years of demands from opposition leaders and social activists who argue that caste-based enumeration is necessary for fair distribution of welfare schemes. The Congress has welcomed the move, describing it as a “historic step towards social justice,” while the ruling BJP emphasised that the inclusion aims to ensure “data-driven governance.”
The Census of India is conducted under the provisions of the Census Act of 1948 and the Census Rules of 1990. The last Census was conducted in 2011 in two phases:
1. **Phase I – House Listing Operation (HLO)**: This phase took place from April 1 to September 30, 2010.
2. **Phase II – Population Enumeration (PE)**: This phase occurred from February 9 to February 28, 2011, with a reference date of 00:00 hours on March 1, 2011. However, for the snow-bound non-synchronous areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, it was conducted from September 11 to September 30, 2010, with a reference date of 00:00 hours on October 1, 2010.
The Census of 2021 was also proposed to be conducted in two phases, similar to 2011. Phase I was scheduled for April to September 2020, while Phase II was set for February 2021. All preparations for the first phase of the 2021 Census were completed, and fieldwork was set to begin in several States and Union Territories from April 1, 2020. However, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic across the country, the census work was postponed.
Policymakers and experts expect the addition of caste data to influence political strategies and welfare policies ahead of India’s next general elections. Some analysts believe that comprehensive enumeration could help bridge socio-economic disparities, while critics warn of potential misuse for electoral gains.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is expected to release detailed guidelines on data collection methodology in the coming months. As India prepares for its first census in 16 years, public discussions continue on the implications of caste-based enumeration.
