## Policy Summary: Population Census 2027
This document summarizes key aspects of the upcoming Population Census 2027, as outlined in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1382, answered on July 29, 2025, by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai.
**Key Provisions:**
* **Intent to Conduct Census:** The Government of India has formally announced its intention to conduct the Population Census 2027, as notified in the Gazette on June 16, 2025.
* **Two-Phase Approach:** The census will be carried out in two distinct phases:
* **Phase One (Houselisting and Housing Census):** This phase will focus on collecting data related to housing conditions, assets, and amenities available to each household.
* **Phase Two (Population Enumeration):** This phase will involve gathering demographic, socioeconomic, cultural, and other relevant details for every individual within each household. Caste enumeration will also be done during this phase.
* **Reference Dates:**
* For most of India, the reference date will be 00:00 hours on March 1, 2027.
* For the Union Territory of Ladakh and snowbound, non-synchronous areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and the States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the reference date will be 00:00 hours on October 1, 2026.
* **Financial Outlay:** The estimated financial allocation for conducting the Census is currently under finalization.
* **National Population Register (NPR):** As of the date of this response, no decision has been made to update the National Population Register (NPR). The timeline for conducting the houselisting and housing Census will be notified separately at a later date.
Key Entities Referenced
Population Census 2027: A national census planned by the Government of India, scheduled to take place in 2027.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for internal security and policy.
National Population Register: A register containing demographic and biometric details of all usual residents of India.
Ladakh: A Union Territory of India.
Jammu and Kashmir: A Union Territory of India.
Himachal Pradesh: A state of India.
Uttarakhand: A state of India.
SHRI NITYANAND RAI: Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1382
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29TH JULY, 2025/ SRAVANA 7, 1947 (SAKA)
POPULATION CENSUS-2027
†1382. DR. MANNA LAL RAWAT:
SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG:
SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:
SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM:
SMT. KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT:
SMT. MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH:
SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL:
SHRI TEJASVI SURYA:
SHRI ANURAG SHARMA:
SHRI DAMODAR AGRAWAL:
SHRI ARUN GOVIL:
SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:
SHRI BASAVARAJ BOMMAI:
DR. K SUDHAKAR:
SHRI TRIVENDRA SINGH RAWAT:
MS. BANSURI SWARAJ:
SMT. SHOBHANABEN MAHENDRASINH BARAIYA:
SHRI BIBHU PRASAD TARAI:
SHRI RODMAL NAGAR:
SHRI RAVINDRA SHUKLA ALIAS RAVI KISHAN:
SHRI SURESH KUMAR KASHYAP:
SHRI MUKESH RAJPUT:
SHRI ALOK SHARMA:
PROF. SOUGATA RAY:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has proposed to conduct Population Census-
2027 in two phases and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the scheduled reference dates for the Population Census-2027
across different regions of the country;-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1382 FOR 29.07.2025
(c) the estimated financial outlay allocated for conducting the Population
Census-2027 and updating the National Population Register;
(d) whether the Government notified the intention to conduct the National
Population Register (NPR) update prior to the Census-2027;
(e) if so, the proposed timeline fixed in this regard; and
(f) whether the Government has notified the intention to conduct the
House-listing and Housing Census and National Population Register (NPR)
update prior to the Census-2027 and if so, the time by which it has been
completed?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a): The Government of India has notified its intent to conduct Census in
the Gazette on 16th June,2025. The Census will be conducted in two
phases. In phase one i.e. houselisting and housing Census, the housing
conditions, assets and amenities of each household will be collected.
Subsequently, in second phase i.e. Population Enumeration, the
demographic, socio-economic, cultural and other details of every person
in each household will be collected. In Census Caste enumeration will also
be done.-3-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1382 FOR 29.07.2025
(b): The reference date for the said census shall be 00.00 hours of the
1st day of March, 2027 (For UT of Ladakh and snow-bound non-
synchronous areas of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and the States of
Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the reference date shall be 00:00
hours of the 1st day of October, 2026).
(c): The estimated financial outlay for conducting Census is under
finalization
(d), (e) & (f): No decision has been taken to update the National
Population Register. The intent to conduct Census has been notified. The
period of conducting houselisting and housing Census will be notified in
due course.
******