India Notifies 40-Question Schedule for Census 2027

The Government of India notified a 40-question schedule for the population enumeration phase of Census 2027 on August 14, 2026. For the first time since independence, the census will collect caste data beyond Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes through an open column for self-declaration. The digital enterprise includes questions on digital literacy, COVID-19 vaccination sites, bank account totals, and identification details such as Aadhaar and passport numbers.

Population enumeration begins September 1 in Ladakh and snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, with a self-enumeration window available from August 17 to 31. The remainder of the country will begin enumeration in February 2027. This follows the completion of the first phase, covering house listing and housing, in 31 states and union territories. The Union Cabinet approved a total budget of ₹11,718.24 crore for the project, with ₹4,102 crore already released to states and union territories.

The Indian National Congress criticized the format, specifically the lack of a pre-prepared state-wise list of castes for respondents to select. Party leaders alleged the government ignored suggestions to adopt the Telangana caste survey model and failed to consult political parties on the questionnaire. Jairam Ramesh stated that the absence of a pre-prepared list raises "serious doubts on intent."