The notification of Census 2027 marks a significant step towards building an inclusive India
On June 16, 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah officially notified the commencement of India’s 16th national Census — marking the eighth since independence — setting in motion what may become the most significant demographic exercise in the country’s history. But this is not just another count of people and households. For the first time, the Indian Census will include caste enumeration, a move with potentially transformative implications for policymaking, governance, and political discourse. Originally scheduled for 2021, Census 2027 comes after a six-year delay, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its prolonged disruptions to field operations. In addition, administrative hesitations and political sensitivity around the issue of caste enumeration contributed to the postponement. Bihar’s caste-based survey in 2023 laid the groundwork for this national shift. The findings there challenged long-held assumptions and triggered a broader national conversation.
As states like Maharashtra, Odisha, and Karnataka began seeking their own surveys, pressure mounted on the Centre to rise above political hesitation. The inclusion of caste data was a matter of heated debate over the past few years, with the opposition consistently demanding a caste-based Census to better understand socio-economic disparities and frame more targeted welfare policies. The Modi Government, on its part, had long resisted these demands — arguing that caste enumeration could be divisive and logistically challenging. However, growing pressure from regional parties, and even some within the NDA fold — especially in light of Bihar’s caste survey in 2023 — left the Centre with few choices. The entire exercise will be conducted digitally for the first time. About 34 lakh enumerators and 1.3 lakh functionaries will be deployed, armed with mobile applications to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and real-time data management. A significant feature of Census 2027 will be the option for self-enumeration via digital platforms, empowering citizens to directly participate in the data collection process. The inclusion of caste data marks a paradigm shift.
For decades, Indian policymakers have been working with incomplete caste data — largely based on the 1931 Census, the last time caste details were officially recorded. This outdated picture has led to ambiguous policy formation, skewed welfare targeting, and inconsistent reservation frameworks. Political parties across the spectrum — especially the opposition — have argued that affirmative action and socio-economic schemes cannot be equitable without accurate caste data. Caste influences access to education, employment, healthcare, and land ownership. A detailed Census would help craft data-driven social justice policies, recalibrate reservation quotas if needed, and direct resources more effectively. Census 2027 will be a social mirror. For the first time, policymakers and citizens alike may have access to reliable, granular caste data. This opens new possibilities for targeted welfare, social reform, and participative governance. Yes, challenges abound — data privacy, political misuse, administrative errors — but the potential rewards are immense.
