The census, which includes caste data, will be completed by March 2027, with results expected after 2-3 years of data processing. (Image: File)
The Registrar General of India (RGI) has announced a critical pre-test for the first phase of Census 2027, thereby starting the historic process for India's 16th national census. Scheduled between November 10 and November 30, 2025, this trial will help perfect the system for India’s largest administrative operation, which will include detailed caste enumeration for the first time.
The pre-test serves as a full-scale rehearsal to test and refine every aspect of the massive census operation. It will be conducted in selected sample areas across all States and Union Territories. This trial run lets the government work out logistical and technical challenges ahead of the main census. The idea is to make the massive operation, using about 3.4 million field staff, efficient and well-coordinated.
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A significant modern feature of the upcoming census is its heavy reliance on digital technology. The Ministry of Home Affairs has confirmed that the 16th Census "will be conducted through digital means using mobile applications." Furthermore, it introduces a groundbreaking "option for self-enumeration." This means that from November 1 to November 7, 2025, ahead of the official pre-test, citizens will have a window to register their household details themselves online, offering greater convenience and potentially improving data accuracy.
The national headcount is systematically conducted in two distinct phases. The first phase, which is the subject of this pre-test, is the House Listing and Housing Census (HLO). During this stage, data is collected on housing conditions, household assets, and amenities like water and electricity. The second phase, known as the Population Enumeration (PE), follows later. At this point, every person living in the nation has their comprehensive demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural data documented.
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While the massive data collection effort for Census 2027 is slated for completion by March 1, 2027, the publication of the final data will take more time. Officials said it will take another two to three years to collect, process, and release all the data. This careful work is important to make sure the information is accurate and useful for shaping government plans for the next decade.
