India’s First Digital Census Set for 2027, Govt Seeks Rs. 14,619 Cr Budget

New Delhi: The Registrar General of India has requested a budget of Rs. 14,619.95 crore for conducting the upcoming Census operations, seeking approval from the Expenditure Finance Committee under the Ministry of Finance. This amount has been proposed for a two-phase Census process scheduled across the years 2026–27.

The first phase, to be conducted between April and September 2026, will focus on the House Listing operation. The second phase, involving the actual Population Enumeration, will take place in February 2027.

However, in select regions — Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand — the population enumeration will be conducted earlier, in September 2026, due to specific logistical and geographical considerations.

A major highlight of the 2027 Census is that it will be India’s first digitally integrated census. Data will be uploaded through a mobile app, and a multilingual online portal will also be developed. Citizens will have the option to self-enumerate online, making participation more accessible. To support the digital operations, around 35 lakh field staff will undergo training in digital tools and protocols.

Originally planned for 2021, the Census had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the easing of pandemic-related restrictions, the government had so far refrained from restarting the process.

The renewed decision to conduct the Census in 2027 also takes into account the upcoming delimitation (redrawing) of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies.

As per existing provisions, the next delimitation must be based on the first Census conducted after 2026. With the Census now set for 2027, the central government is expected to move swiftly toward redrawing constituencies based on the new data. This could mean that the 2029 Parliamentary elections may be held based on newly redrawn constituencies.