This second phase will include caste enumeration for the first time since 1931.

Beyond Paper: India’s First Digital Census to Track Everything from Caste to Cereal

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has officially notified the schedule and questionnaire for the first phase of Census 2027. According to the report, the upcoming "Houselisting and Housing" phase will feature 33 specific questions, replicating the parameters originally proposed for the 2021 Census before its pandemic-induced postponement.

The notification states that the initial phase will take place from April 1 to September 30, 2026. Citizens will be required to provide details on 33 items, including building numbers, household size, and the predominant materials used in the house's floor, walls, and roof. Additional queries cover ownership status, the number of dwelling rooms, and the number of married couples in the household.

The TOI report further states that respondents must disclose access to basic amenities such as drinking water, lighting, latrines, and bathing facilities. Modern connectivity and lifestyle markers, including internet access, smartphones, laptops, and the "main cereal consumed", are also part of the questionnaire.

Population Enumeration, the second phase, is scheduled for February 9 to February 28, 2027, with March 1, 2027, as the reference date for most of India. 

This second phase will include caste enumeration for the first time since 1931. Data collection will be primarily digital via a dedicated census app or during enumerator visits.

Source: Times of India