Cabinet Clears ₹11,718 Crore for Census 2027; India to Conduct Its First-Ever Digital Population Count

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved a budgetary outlay of ₹11,718 crore for conducting Census 2027, marking a major milestone as India’s first fully digital census.

The decision was announced by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw following a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Briefing the media, Vaishnaw said the Cabinet has formally cleared the proposal to undertake the nationwide census using digital tools, signalling a shift toward technology-driven governance and data-led policymaking.

Two-Phase Census Plan

The census will be conducted in two phases:

• House Listing and Housing Census: From April to September 2026, enumerators will collect data on residential structures, amenities, and household conditions.
• Population Enumeration: The second phase, involving the actual counting of the population, will be carried out in February 2027.

However, due to climatic constraints, the census in Ladakh, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and snow-bound remote regions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will be conducted earlier, in September 2026.

Digital Data Collection and Caste Enumeration

Vaishnaw confirmed that caste-related data will also be collected electronically during the initial phase of Census 2027, a move likely to have significant implications for social policy and welfare planning.

Around 30 lakh personnel, including enumerators and supervisors, will be deployed across the country for this massive national exercise.

Mobile App, Central Portal, and Real-Time Monitoring

For the first time, census data will be gathered using a dedicated mobile application, while a centralised digital portal will be set up for real-time monitoring.

This system is expected to improve data accuracy, reduce manual errors, and ensure greater transparency.

The minister said the new framework will enable faster dissemination of data in a user-friendly format, allowing policymakers and stakeholders to access key insights with a single click.

Census-Based Service (CAAS)

Vaishnaw also highlighted the introduction of Census-Based Service (CAAS), under which ministries and departments will receive clean, machine-readable, and actionable datasets.

This is expected to significantly enhance evidence-based decision-making, planning, and targeted delivery of government schemes.

With Census 2027, India aims to modernise one of the world’s largest administrative exercises, leveraging digital infrastructure to improve efficiency, accessibility, and policy relevance.

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