Context: The Union Cabinet on Friday approved the proposal for conducting Census of India 2027.
Salient Features of Census 2027
First-time Milestones
First Digital Census in India
First caste enumeration since Independence
Census-as-a-Service (CaaS) initiative launched
Data Collection & Technology
Data collection via mobile applications
Real-time monitoring through:
Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS) portal
Enhanced dissemination through:
Customised visualisation tools
Census
A decennial, comprehensive enumeration of population and housing, providing official demographic, social and economic data of the country.
Genesis
- First non-synchronous census conducted in 1872 (during British rule G.G Lord Mayo period).
- First synchronous census conducted in 1881, establishing the decennial tradition. (G.G. Ripon period)
Conducting Authority
- Conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India (RGI).
- Functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Legal / Statutory Framework
- Governed by the Census Act, 1948.
- Provides for:
- Appointment of census officers
- Confidentiality of individual information
- Penalties for non-compliance or false information
- Census data cannot be used as evidence in courts.
Frequency
- Conducted once every 10 years (decennial).
Coverage / Parameters Collected
- Demographic: Population size, age, sex, marital status.
- Social: Religion, caste (SC/ST), literacy, education.
- Economic: Occupation, workforce participation.
- Housing: Housing condition, amenities, assets.
- Provides micro-level data up to village and ward level, crucial for planning and policy.
Last Census
- Census 2011: 15th Census of India and 7th after Independence.
- Census 2021: Postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic (yet to be conducted).
National Population Register vs National Register of Citizens
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
