India’s Census 2027 is the 16th census in the country’s history and the 8th since Independence. It is also the first census to be conducted entirely digitally, using a mobile app for door-to-door enumeration and an online self-enumeration portal available in 16 languages.
The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Shri Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, announced the schedule at a press conference in New Delhi on March 30, 2026.
Two Phases of Census 2027
Phase 1 collects data on housing conditions, household amenities, and assets. Each state and Union Territory follows a two-step process: a 15-day self-enumeration window, followed by a 30-day door-to-door house listing phase. Dates vary by state (see table below).
Phase 2 records individual-level data on demographics, education, migration, socio-economics, and fertility. Caste enumeration will also take place in this phase, as decided by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA).
Census 2027 Phase 1: State-wise Schedule
| State / UT | Self-Enumeration Period | House Listing & Housing Census |
|---|---|---|
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Delhi (NDMC & Cantonment), Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, Sikkim | 1 Apr โ 15 Apr | 16 Apr โ 15 May |
| Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu | 5 Apr โ 19 Apr | 20 Apr โ 19 May |
| Uttarakhand | 10 Apr โ 24 Apr | 25 Apr โ 24 May |
| Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana | 16 Apr โ 30 Apr | 1 May โ 30 May |
| Bihar | 17 Apr โ 1 May | 2 May โ 31 May |
| Telangana | 26 Apr โ 10 May | 11 May โ 9 Jun |
| Punjab | 30 Apr โ 14 May | 15 May โ 13 Jun |
| Delhi (MCD), Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Jharkhand | 1 May โ 15 May | 16 May โ 14 Jun |
| Uttar Pradesh | 7 May โ 21 May | 22 May โ 20 Jun |
| Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Puducherry | 17 May โ 31 May | 1 Jun โ 30 Jun |
| Himachal Pradesh | 1 Jun โ 15 Jun | 16 Jun โ 15 Jul |
| Kerala, Nagaland | 16 Jun โ 30 Jun | 1 Jul โ 30 Jul |
| Tamil Nadu, Tripura | 17 Jul โ 31 Jul | 1 Aug โ 30 Aug |
| Assam | 2 Aug โ 16 Aug | 17 Aug โ 15 Sep |
| Manipur | 17 Aug โ 31 Aug | 1 Sep โ 30 Sep |
| West Bengal | To be decided | To be decided |
How Will Digital Census Work?
Enumerators will collect data using an official mobile application. Citizens can also fill in their own details through a self-enumeration portal before the door-to-door phase begins in their state. The portal supports 16 languages, making it accessible across India’s linguistic regions.
The last census was conducted in 2011. A 16-year gap means India has been making policy decisions on outdated population data. Census 2027 will update the data used for government welfare schemes, parliamentary delimitation, infrastructure planning, and resource allocation across all states.
Key Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Phase 1 begins (first states) | April 1, 2026 |
| Phase 1 ends (last states) | September 30, 2026 |
| Phase 2: Population Enumeration | February 2027 |
| West Bengal schedule | To be announced |
