India’s First Digital Census: Cabinet Approves ₹11,718 Crore for 2027 Count
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The Union Cabinet has officially approved an outlay of ₹11,718 crore for the Census 2027. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the approval, calling the upcoming count the “first-ever digital Census” for India.
This exercise is set to break a 140-year-old tradition of paper-based counts and finally provide updated data for welfare schemes and political delimitation—a process delayed since the 2021 Census was postponed.
Also read | SC: ‘Migration’ in Voter Rolls May Imply Citizenship Check
The Dual-Phase Digital Countdown
The colossal exercise will be conducted in two distinct phases, consistent with previous censuses but now leveraging digital technology:
| Phase | Timeframe | Focus | Purpose (Reporter’s Note) |
| Phase I: House Listing & Housing Census | April to September 2026 (30-day period) | Records all buildings, households, basic living conditions, amenities, and household assets. | Provides the foundational mapping and framework for the second phase. |
| Phase II: Population Enumeration (PE) | February 2027 (Except for snow-bound areas which start in Sept 2026) | Collects individual-level data: demographic, socio-economic status, education, religion, caste, and migration details. | Provides the actual population count and granular social data. |
The Digital Leap (The Kicker)
This shift to a “digital Census” is the biggest change in the exercise’s history. Approximately 30 lakh field functionaries will use mobile applications (Android/iOS) for real-time data collection.
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Technology: Data will be collected via mobile apps and managed by a Census Management & Monitoring System (CMMS) for real-time tracking.
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Self-Enumeration: For the first time, citizens will have the option to self-enumerate their data through a secure online portal, increasing speed and participation.
The Crucial Inclusion: Caste Enumeration
In a major and politically sensitive decision, the government confirmed that caste enumeration will be included in the Census 2027.
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This will be the first comprehensive caste count since the 1931 Census, as post-independence censuses only counted Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
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The data is crucial for evidence-based policy-making, helping the government accurately assess the socio-economic status of all communities (including Other Backward Classes/OBCs) and better target welfare and reservation policies.
X happened (The Union Cabinet approved the budget and the digital plan). And then Y followed (India is gearing up for a technologically advanced and politically charged headcount that will redefine its socio-economic data landscape).
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Disclaimer: This information is based on public statements by Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Nityanand Rai regarding the Census 2027 approval and its features.
