Census 2027: Caste, SC-ST Status and COVID-19 Vaccination Details Among 40 Questions

New Delhi: The Central Government has notified the 40 questions that will be asked during the population enumeration phase of the 2027 Census, marking a significant expansion in the information to be collected from households and individuals. The questionnaire includes questions related to caste, Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, as well as details about where individuals received their COVID-19 vaccination.

According to the order issued by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, respondents will be asked whether they belong to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe and, where applicable, to provide the name of their caste or tribe.

Caste data to be collected comprehensively
The inclusion of caste-related questions is one of the most notable features of the upcoming Census. The exercise will collect caste information on a comprehensive scale, making it a significant departure from previous population enumeration exercises.

The questionnaire will also seek information on various demographic and socio-economic characteristics of individuals and households.

Census in snow-bound areas from September 1
The population enumeration exercise in snow-bound and difficult-to-access areas of Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will be conducted from September 1 to September 30, 2026.

Residents of these areas will also have the option of self-enumeration online from August 17 to August 31, allowing them to submit their information digitally before the physical enumeration process.

For the rest of the country, population enumeration is scheduled to take place in February 2027.

Census to be conducted in two phases
The 2027 Census will be conducted in two broad phases. The first phase will focus on housing and household-related information, including details concerning houses and other residential structures.

The second phase will involve the population enumeration, during which demographic, social and socio-economic information about every individual will be recorded.

First digital Census of India
The 2027 exercise will be India’s 16th Census overall and the eighth since Independence. It will also be the country’s first digital Census, with enumerators using mobile devices for data collection.

The government has also introduced a self-enumeration facility, enabling citizens to provide their information online.

The previous Census, scheduled for 2021, could not be conducted as planned because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The upcoming exercise is therefore expected to provide the country with its first comprehensive population data in more than a decade.