Centre Issues Notification For 16th Census In 2027, Announces Reference Dates

Last Updated:June 16, 2025, 12:32 IST

The Centre has announced the reference dates for India’s 16th census to be held in 2027. The census would be conducted in two phases, it was earlier notified.

A file photo showing census work in Assam (PTI)

The Centre on Monday issued an official gazette notifying of the conduct of the census.

According to an official notification, India’s 16th census with caste enumeration will be carried out in 2027.

“The reference date for the said census shall be 00.00 hours of the 1st day of March, 2027, except for the Union territory of Ladakh and snow-bound non-synchronous areas of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand," Monday’s notification mentioned.

“In respect of Ladakh and snow-bound non-synchronous areas of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the reference date shall be 00:00 hours of the 1st day of October, 2026," it said.

On Sunday, Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the preparation for the forthcoming census with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and other senior officials in New Delhi.

The census will be conducted in two phases.

In phase one, i.e. Houselisting Operation (HLO), the housing conditions, assets and amenities of each household will be collected.

Subsequently, in the second phase, i.e. Population Enumeration (PE), the demographic, socio-economic, cultural and other details of every person in each household will be collected.

In the census, caste enumeration will also be done, the statement said.

The massive exercise to give population-related data from across the country will be done by about 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors and around 1.3 lakh census functionaries armed with digital devices.

In the census, caste enumeration will also be done, a government statement said.

Provision of self-enumeration would also be made available to the people.

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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