Census 2027: MHA notifies 40 questions for second phase

Why in News?

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed Census officials to record the caste of every person during the second phase of Census 2027. The information will be collected through an open-ended question, with enumerators recording the caste exactly as stated by respondents.

This will be the first population census to collect caste information since 1931, making it a significant development for understanding India’s social and demographic composition.

Key Points

The caste-related question will be one of the 40 questions included in the population enumeration schedule. Enumerators will record caste details based on the respondent’s answer, and there will be no predefined dropdown menu or tick-box options.

The first phase of the population enumeration exercise is scheduled to begin in September 2026 in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. For the rest of India, the second phase of Census 2027, covering population enumeration, will begin in February 2027.

The caste question will be recorded alongside information relating to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

The Census will also collect information on several socio-economic and demographic indicators. Enumerators will ask whether individuals possess a passport or driving licence and whether they have received COVID-19 vaccination.

Information on digital literacy will also be collected. The questionnaire will further cover the highest level of education attained, educational discipline and attendance at educational institutions.

The Census 2027 will be India’s 16th Census overall and the eighth Census since Independence. More than 30 lakh enumerators are expected to participate in the exercise.

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