India's Upcoming Population Census: Key Dates and Details Revealed

India is set to conduct its population census from January 25 to February 28, 2027, with significant details announced by the Census Commissioner. This census, the eighth since independence, will include a self-enumeration option prior to the main enumeration phase. Key regions will be excluded due to elections and snow conditions. The last census in 2011 recorded a population of 1.21 billion. Read on for more insights into this crucial national exercise.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 30, 2026, 21:31 IST

Census Scheduled for Early 2027

New Delhi: The Census Commissioner has announced that the population census will take place throughout India, excluding areas affected by elections and snow-covered regions, from January 25 to February 28, 2027.

An official notification confirmed that the reference date for this census will be midnight on March 1, 2027.

The census will be conducted in all states and Union territories, with the exception of Manipur (until further notice), Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Ladakh, and certain snow-affected areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

The notification issued by Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, the Registrar General of India (RGI) and Census Commissioner, outlined that the census will occur from January 25, 2027, to February 28, 2027.

Additionally, a 'revisional round' is scheduled from March 1 to March 5, 2027.

Self-enumeration will be available from January 10 to January 24, 2027, just prior to the commencement of the house-to-house enumeration process.

Assembly elections are anticipated in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa, and Manipur early next year.

This census marks the eighth since India's independence and will be executed in two phases: house listing and housing census, followed by population enumeration.

Originally planned for 2021, this decennial exercise was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Union Cabinet has allocated ₹11,718 crore for this extensive headcount initiative.

Last month, the Centre announced the postponement of house-listing operations for Census 2027 in Manipur.

The previous census, conducted in 2011, recorded a population of 1.21 billion, comprising 623.2 million males and 587.5 million females.

At that time, India had approximately 249.5 million households.