Anantam IASCurrent Affairs · 29 August 2025

Population Census 2027

Study Notes · General Studies · GS II · Indian Polity

Why in News?

The pre-test exercise for the Population Census, 2027 will be conducted in October and November, the Registrar-General and Census Commissioner (RG & CCI) has informed the Directorates of Census Operations (DCOs) in the States.

UPSC Relevance

Important terms related to population and demography as well trends and developments for Prelims

PYQ

2009

Consider the Following statements:

1. Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the density of the population of India has increased more than three times.

2. Between Census 1951 and Census 2001 the annual growth rate (exponential) of the population of India has doubled.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

2024

The total fertility rate in an economy is defined as:

a) the number of children born per 1000 people in the population in a year.

b) the number of children born to a couple in their lifetime in a given population.

c) the birth rate minus death rate.

d) the average number of live births a woman would have by the end of her child-bearing age.

Population Census 2027 Pre-Test

Pre-Test Schedule: The pre-test for the Population Census, 2027 will be conducted in October and November.
Purpose: The pre-test is designed to assess the effectiveness and readiness of the entire census process. This evaluation will cover:
- Proposed questions and data collection methods.
- Effectiveness of training and logistics.
- Printing processes and data quality assessment.
- Identification of potential field issues before the main census.
Main Census Details: The main census, set to be completed in 2027, will be the first since 2011. It will be conducted in two phases:
- Houselisting and Housing Schedule (HLO)
- Population Enumeration
  The exercise is scheduled to run from April 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027.
Key Innovations: The upcoming census introduces several new features:
- It will be the first digital census.
- It will be the first time since independence that caste will be enumerated.
- A mobile app will be used for data collection for the first time.
- The pre-test will also try out self-enumeration, digital mapping tools, and a web-based portal for real-time monitoring.
Pre-Test Scope: Unlike the pre-test for the 2021 Census, this year’s pre-test will only cover questions related to the first phase (Houselisting and Housing Schedule). It will not include the second phase, where caste is to be tabulated.
National Population Register (NPR):
- The government has stated that no decision has been made to update the NPR during the 2027 Census exercise.
- The NPR, which contains details of 119 crore residents, was first created in 2010 and updated in 2015-16.
- According to the Citizenship Rules, 2003, the NPR is the first step toward creating a National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Administrative Preparedness: To ensure a smooth process, the Registrar-General of India (RGI) has instructed states to freeze the boundaries of administrative units (tehsils and districts) by December 31.

Comparison of Census, National Population Register (NPR), and National Register of Citizens (NRC)

Feature	Census	National Population Register (NPR)	National Register of Citizens (NRC)
Primary Purpose	To collect detailed, aggregated statistical data on the entire population (demographics, social, economic, housing). This data is used for government planning, policy formulation, and research.	To create a comprehensive identity database of all usual residents of the country. This register is meant for better governance, delivery of government schemes, and security.	To identify and document all legal citizens of India and distinguish them from illegal immigrants. The primary goal is to verify citizenship status.
Legal Backing	The Census Act, 1948. This act makes it mandatory for every person to truthfully provide information and guarantees confidentiality.	The Citizenship Act, 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.	The Citizenship Act, 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.
People Included	All individuals residing within the geographical boundaries of India at the time of enumeration. This includes both citizens and non-citizens.	All “usual residents” of the country, defined as a person who has resided in an area for the past six months or more, or who intends to reside there for the next six months or more.	Exclusively Indian citizens.
Criteria for Inclusion	Based on physical presence at the time of enumeration. Information is primarily based on self-declaration, without a requirement for documentary proof.	Any person who has been living in an area or locality for six months or more or intends to live in an area/locality for the next six months at the time of a survey is considered a resident. While based on self-declaration, it is the initial step for creating a comprehensive identity database. It collects demographic and, potentially, biometric data.	Requires documentary proof of citizenship. In the case of the Assam NRC, this involved proving that a person or their ancestors were in India before a specific cut-off date (e.g., March 24, 1971). A nationwide NRC would also require similar documentary evidence.
Who Conducts	The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Field operations are a joint effort with state governments.	The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is often conducted simultaneously with the houselisting phase of the Census.	The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Assam NRC was a Supreme Court-monitored exercise.
Confidentiality	Data collected about an individual is strictly confidential and cannot be shared with any government department or individual. The Census Act guarantees this confidentiality.	The data collected can be shared with other government departments for the implementation of welfare schemes and for security purposes. The information is not considered confidential in the same way as census data.	The register is intended to be a public document to verify citizenship status and is not confidential.
Frequency	Decennial (once every 10 years). The last complete census was conducted in 2011. The 2021 Census has been postponed.	Was first prepared in 2010 and updated in 2015. It is designed to be a dynamic, continuously updated register.	The only nationwide NRC was prepared in 1951. An updated NRC has been conducted only in Assam. A nationwide NRC has been proposed but not yet implemented.
Last Conducted	2011 (Complete Census)	Updated in 2015	The final list for the Assam NRC was published in 2019.
Relationship to Each Other	A completely separate and independent exercise from both the NPR and the NRC.	The NPR can be seen as the foundational step for the NRC. The Citizenship Rules, 2003, explicitly state that the NPR data can be used to prepare the NRC after a verification process to determine citizenship.	The NRC is the final outcome of the citizenship verification process, potentially using the NPR as the base list of residents. It is the end goal for identifying legal citizens.

The Indian Census

Historical Context and Significance: It has a history spanning over 130 years, with the first census conducted non-synchronously in 1872 and then decennial Census since 1881. This decennial exercise provides valuable insights into the demographic, economic, and social characteristics of India’s people.
From 1881 to 2011, the census exercise was conducted uninterruptedly every ten years except 2021.
Administrative Authority: The responsibility for conducting the census lies with the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGI), which operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Evolution of the Census Organization:
- Prior to 1951, the census organization was set up on an ad-hoc basis for each enumeration.
- The Census Act of 1948 was enacted to provide a legal framework for conducting the census and to define the duties and responsibilities of census officers.
- In May 1949, the government established the Office of the RGI and ex-officio Census Commissioner within the Ministry of Home Affairs to systematically collect data on population and vital statistics.
- Later, this office was also tasked with implementing the Birth and Death Registration Act, 1969.
Organizational Structure: The census organization in India consists of its headquarters in New Delhi and a network of 34 Directorates of Census Operations that function in different states and union territories.