India to Launch First Digital Census in 2027

India's government is preparing to launch its first fully digital national census in 2027, marking the first population count in 15 years and introducing modern technology to update critical demographic and housing data. The exercise, delayed from 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will begin with the first phase on April 1, 2026, and unfold in two stages across the country to inform policy decisions on resources, welfare, and development.

The census will proceed in two distinct phases. The initial house listing and housing census, running from April 1 to September 30, 2026, will gather information on household conditions, including building materials for floors, walls, and roofs; access to amenities such as water, electricity, and sanitation; ownership of assets like vehicles; and consumption patterns, such as types of cereals used. Officials have notified 33 specific questions for this stage, starting with details on building and census house numbers, followed by the household's use, condition, and size. Data will also cover the head of the household, including their name, sex, social category—such as Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, or other—and property ownership status.