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The Ministry of Home Affairs has officially announced that the next Population Census of India will be conducted in the year 2027. This important national activity will be carried out in two phases, just like the previous censuses. A notification was issued on Monday, June 16, sharing the government’s intention and the reference dates for this massive data collection exercise.
What is a “Reference Date”?
A reference date is the fixed date and time that is used for counting people and collecting all related information, such as age, occupation, education, etc. Even if the census is done over several weeks, all data is counted as it was on this reference date.
What Are the Reference Dates for Census 2027?
- For most states and union territories, the reference date will be March 1, 2027, at 12:00 am (midnight).
- For Ladakh, and snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, where heavy snowfall can disrupt travel and survey work, the reference date will be October 1, 2026, at 12:00 am.
The government made this announcement under the powers granted by the Census Act, 1948, and Census Rules, 1990.
What Does the Notification Say?
The official Gazette notification states that, based on Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948, the government has decided to carry out the next census in 2027. It also replaces an earlier notification issued in March 2019, except for any actions already taken under that old notification.
Why Was the 2021 Census Delayed?
Originally, the Census 2021 was supposed to be conducted in two phases:
- Phase I: House Listing Operations – between April and September 2020
- Phase II: Population Enumeration – during February 2021
The government had completed all preparations to begin the work from April 1, 2020, in some states and union territories. However, the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic forced the government to postpone the entire census operation to protect the health and safety of both the public and the census workers.
When Was the Last Census Conducted?
The last Census of India was carried out in 2011, also in two phases:
- House Listing took place from April to September 2010
- Population Enumeration was done in February 2011
Since the census is usually held every 10 years, the next one was expected in 2021, but the pandemic delayed it. Now, the government has officially confirmed that Census 2027 will be the next population count.
Why Is the Census Important?
The Population Census is one of the most important data collection exercises in the country. It helps the government:
- Understand how many people live in India
- Plan schools, hospitals, roads, and other services
- Make decisions about development schemes
- Allocate funds fairly across states and districts
- Identify changes in population growth, age groups, employment, migration, and much more
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