GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2153
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11TH MARCH, 2026/ PHALGUNA 20, 1947 (SAKA)
CHANGES IN CENSUS 2027
2153. SHRI TIRUCHI SIVA:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government is considering adding intersex as a gender category
within the Census;
(b) whether the self-enumeration approach could...
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2153 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11TH MARCH, 2026/ PHALGUNA 20, 1947 (SAKA) CHANGES IN CENSUS 2027
2153. SHRI TIRUCHI SIVA:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government is considering adding intersex as a gender category within the Census;
(b) whether the self-enumeration approach could increase risks of inaccurate or falsified data due to lack of enumerator guidance;
(c) steps being taken to ensure data credibility in the self-enumeration and digital enumeration process; and
(d) steps being taken to ensure privacy of individuals when sensitive information is recorded digitally in the Census? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a): Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases. Questions of Phase I i.e., Houselisting and Housing Census have been notified. Information on Housing condition, Household particulars including name and sex of the head of the household, amenities available and assets possessed by household will be collected in this phase. Three categories of sex of head of household viz.
Male/Female/Transgender will be collected. Questions for the second phase, i.e., Population Enumeration, in which information of each individual will be collected, will be notified in due course.-2- R.S.US.Q.NO. 2153 FOR 11.03.2026
(b) and (c): Enumerators shall undertake house-to-house field visit in entire enumeration area for collection of Census data to avoid any exclusion on any ground. Provision of self-enumeration is an additional facility for the respondents to submit data. Enumerators will confirm self-enumeration data before final submission. Further, FAQs, necessary ‘Tool Tips’ and validation checks for questions are provided in the self-enumeration Portal itself to ensure accuracy of data.
Adequate training is being provided to all field functionaries appointed for Census work including enumerators and supervisors. Validation rules are incorporated in the mobile app itself to ensure data consistency and accuracy. Further, Data collected by enumerators will also be monitored and checked by supervisors.
(d) All suitable measures have been taken for data security while collecting data on mobile, during data transmission and at server level. *****