India’s next population census will be conducted from January 25 to February 28, 2027, across most states and Union Territories. The Ministry of Home Affairs has notified the schedule for the population enumeration phase of Census 2027, with certain poll-bound and snow-bound regions excluded from the general timeline.
According to the notification issued by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner on October 30, the reference date for the census will be midnight on March 1, 2027. A revisional round to verify and correct recorded information will take place from March 1 to 5.
Self-Enumeration Facility From January 10
Residents will have the option to submit their household details online through a self-enumeration facility from January 10 to 24, 2027. This will be followed by door-to-door visits by census officials from January 25.
States and Regions With Separate Schedules
The January-February schedule excludes Manipur, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Ladakh and the snow-bound non-synchronous areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
The four poll-bound states and regions—Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa and non-snow-bound areas of Uttarakhand—will follow an earlier schedule. Self-enumeration in these areas is scheduled from November 16 to 30, 2026, followed by door-to-door population enumeration from December 1, 2026, to January 4, 2027. A revisional round will take place from January 5 to 9, 2027.
Manipur’s schedule remains subject to a separate announcement. Snow-bound regions will also follow separate arrangements.
India’s First Digital Census
Census 2027 is being conducted after a 16-year gap. The previous census took place in 2011, while the 2021 exercise was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2027 exercise is India’s first digital census and will include population enumeration as well as caste enumeration beyond Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The data will provide an updated demographic picture of the country and support policy planning and resource allocation.
