Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 258, to be answered on December 2nd, 2025, addresses the resumption of Census 2021, which was postponed due to COVID-19. The response from the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai, states that the government has decided to conduct the census in 2027.
The intent to conduct the census was notified in the Gazette on June 16th, 2025. Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases: Phase I (House Listing and Housing Census) from April to September 2026, for a period of 30 days as per State/UT Government convenience, and Phase II (Population Enumeration), in February 2027. The reference date for Population Enumeration is 00:00 hours of March 1st, 2027, except for Ladakh, snow-bound non-synchronous areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, where it will be done in September 2026, with a reference date of 00:00 hours of October 1st, 2026. Caste enumeration in Census 2027 will be done as decided by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs vide its decision dated 30.04.2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Census 2027: The upcoming decennial census to be conducted by the Government of India.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for conducting the census.
Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs: Committee responsible for decisions on caste enumeration in the Census 2027.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 258
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2ND DECEMBER, 2025/ AGRAHAYANA 11, 1947
(SAKA)
RESUMPTION OF CENSUS 2021
258. SHRI M K RAGHAVAN:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to resume Census 2021, which was
notified in Gazette of India and postponed due to Covid 19 out breaks;
(b) if so, the details thereof including timeframe of its expected
completion;
(c) whether the Government proposes to conduct caste census along with
the upcoming decennial census; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) & (b): The Government has decided to conduct Census in 2027. The
intent of the Government for conducting Census has been notified in the
Gazette dated 16th June, 2025. The Census 2027 will be conducted in two
phases namely Phase I – House Listing and Housing Census from April to
September, 2026 in a period of 30 days as per the convenience of the
State/UT Governments followed by Phase II – Population Enumeration (PE).
Population Enumeration will be done in February 2027 with reference-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 258 FOR 02.12.2025
date 00:00 hours of 1st March, 2027 except for the Union territory of
Ladakh and snow-bound non-synchronous areas of the Union territory of
Jammu and Kashmir and the States of Himachal Pradesh and
Uttarakhand, where it will be done in September, 2026 with reference date
00.00 hours of 1st October, 2026.
(c) & (d): In Census 2027, Caste enumeration will be done as decided by
Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs vide its decision dated 30.04.2025.
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