New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved an allocation of ₹11,718.24 crore for conducting India’s next national census in 2027, marking a historic shift as the exercise will be carried out entirely through digital means for the first time. The announcement was made on Friday by Union Minister for Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw during a press briefing.
According to the approved plan, Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases. The first phase, comprising the house-listing and housing census, will take place between April and September 2026. This will be followed by the population enumeration phase in February 2027, during which detailed demographic data will be collected.
Massive Nationwide Exercise After a 16-Year Gap
Highlighting the scale of the operation, Vaishnaw said the upcoming census would be one of the largest administrative exercises undertaken by the government. The last national census was conducted in 2011, while the scheduled 2021 census was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a significant delay in updating population data.
The minister informed that the formal process for Census 2027 has already begun, with the gazette notification issued on June 16, 2025. The Cabinet’s budgetary approval now clears the way for comprehensive administrative, logistical, and technological preparations across the country.
30 Lakh Personnel, Mobile App-Based Data Collection
Around 30 lakh field-level personnel, including enumerators and supervisors, will be deployed nationwide to conduct the census. In a major departure from previous practices, data collection will be done using a dedicated mobile application, eliminating the need for paper schedules.
The digital system will enable real-time data entry, transmission, and validation, improving accuracy, reducing processing time, and enhancing data security. Officials said the two-phase structure will follow established census methodology, beginning with National Population Register-linked house listing and followed by individual and household enumeration.
Pilot Pre-Test Launched in Odisha
Preparations have already moved into the operational stage with the launch of pilot pre-test exercises in select regions, including four locations in Odisha. These include:
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Ward No. 22 of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation
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Ward No. 17 of Cuttack Municipal Corporation
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20 revenue villages under Tentulikhunti tehsil in Nabarangpur district
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44 revenue villages under Thakurmunda tehsil in Mayurbhanj district
The pilot aims to test the digital tools, workflows, and field-level readiness before nationwide implementation.
A Landmark Step in India’s Digital Governance
Officials noted that Census 2027 represents a significant milestone in India’s digital governance journey, leveraging technology to modernise one of the country’s most critical data-gathering exercises. The updated census data is expected to play a crucial role in policy planning, welfare distribution, infrastructure development, and electoral delimitation in the years ahead.
