Caste Census to Begin in 2027; To Be Conducted in Two Phases Across the Country

According to official sources, the census will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will commence on October 1, 2026, in the union territories and hilly regions including Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The second phase, covering the rest of the country, will begin on March 1, 2027.

This census will include a dedicated caste column in its forms, gathering detailed information about each household’s caste identity. Alongside data on population size, gender, age, education, occupation, and religion, this addition is expected to provide crucial insights into the socio-economic status of various caste groups.

Historically, caste-wise data was last fully collected during the 1931 census, prior to India’s independence. After that, caste enumeration was discontinued to reduce the risk of caste-based divisions and discrimination. In 2011, the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) was conducted during the tenure of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, but the caste data was never officially released.

The delay in the decennial census scheduled for 2021, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in a significant data gap. The upcoming 2027 census will fill that gap while also updating long-overdue caste-based statistics.

Experts suggest that this caste-wise census could play a vital role in shaping political, social, and economic policies, enabling better-targeted welfare schemes and fostering the development of marginalized and underprivileged communities.

The government’s decision is likely to trigger national debates on reservation policies, resource allocation, and representation, as caste dynamics continue to influence India's socio-political landscape.