India to Hold National Census in 2027, Announces Ministry of Home Affairs

Ukhrul, June 16: The Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, has officially notified the conduct of the next nationwide Census in 2027.

The notification, published under S.O. 2681(E) in The Gazette of India – Extraordinary, supersedes the earlier notification S.O. 1455(E) dated March 26, 2019, marks the beginning of preparations for what is considered the largest administrative and statistical exercise in the country.

Invoking the powers vested under Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948, the Central Government has declared that a comprehensive population census will be undertaken in 2027. This decision replaces the previously scheduled census plan which had been deferred in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and related administrative challenges.

Also read | Delimitation of Manipur Constituencies (2001 Census): Synopsis by B. D. Behring

The reference date for the census across most of India will be 00:00 hours on March 1, 2027, except for the Union Territory of Ladakh, and snow-bound, non-synchronous areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand will use a different reference date.

Also read | Northeast NEET-UG 2025 Toppers State-Wise; Assam, Tripura and Arunachal Among Top 3

The alternate date for the above-mentioned regions, the Union Territory of Ladakh, and snow-bound, non-synchronous areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand the reference date for census activities will be 00:00 hours on October 1, 2026, the notification said.