India · Census and Population Data
India Census 2027: Timeline, Digital Self-Enumeration and What Data Will Be Collected
India’s 16th national census is under way. It is the first Indian census conducted with digital data-collection tools and the first to offer optional online self-enumeration. The 2011 Census remains the latest completed national population count.
Main sources used on this page: Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India, the Ministry of Home Affairs Census 2027 status release, and the Census India Digital Library.
Last updated: September 24, 2026
Core Census Indicators
Census 2027 Status: As of September 24, Population Enumeration is under way in Ladakh and designated snow-bound non-synchronous areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand through September 30. For Phase I, Tamil Nadu has officially reported completion. Tripura and West Bengal have passed their notified field periods without a later whole-State completion confirmation as of September 24. Assam has an HLO extension in Charaideo and Sivasagar through October 31, while Manipur’s houselisting operation is deferred until further declaration. A separate Phase II schedule places Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and non-snow-bound Uttarakhand in self-enumeration from November 16–30 and house-to-house Population Enumeration from December 1, 2026 to January 4, 2027.
Phase I Rollout Status
Phase I Status as of September 24, 2026
Whole-jurisdiction completion is counted only where an official completion notice is available; expired schedules are not treated as proof of completion.
Sources: Ministry of Home Affairs national status release, Tamil Nadu completion notice, ORGI Gazette notifications for Manipur and Assam, and the latest notified schedules for Tripura and West Bengal. Phase II Population Enumeration is tracked separately.
State and Union Territory Tracker
The table combines the August 12 national completion count with later official notices. Tamil Nadu has since reported Phase I complete; Assam has a district-level extension, Manipur is deferred, and the notified field periods in Tripura and West Bengal have ended without a later whole-State completion confirmation as of September 24.
| State or Union Territory | Phase I status | Operational note | Status date | Source basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Andhra Pradesh | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Assam | Extension active | The statewide HLO period ran August 17–September 15; HLO in Charaideo and Sivasagar was extended through October 31 after flood-related disruption | September 17, 2026 | ORGI Gazette extension and PIB Assam update |
| Bihar | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Chandigarh | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Chhattisgarh | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Delhi | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Goa | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Gujarat | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Haryana | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Himachal Pradesh | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Jharkhand | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Karnataka | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Kerala | Completed | HLO field period ended July 30; included in the national count of 31 completed States/UTs | August 12, 2026 | MHA national status report and notified HLO schedule |
| Ladakh | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Lakshadweep | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Madhya Pradesh | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Maharashtra | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Manipur | Deferred | Houselisting operations were deferred until further declaration by the September 5 Gazette notification | September 5, 2026 | ORGI Gazette Notification 09 |
| Meghalaya | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Mizoram | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Nagaland | Completed | HLO field period ended July 30; included in the national count of 31 completed States/UTs | August 12, 2026 | MHA national status report and notified HLO schedule |
| Odisha | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Puducherry | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Punjab | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Rajasthan | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Sikkim | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Tamil Nadu | Completed | The Directorate of Census Operations reported Phase I successfully completed across Tamil Nadu after the August 1–30 field period | August 31, 2026 | PIB Tamil Nadu completion update |
| Telangana | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Tripura | Scheduled field period ended | The notified HLO field period ended August 30; whole-State completion is not yet confirmed by a later official notice | August 30, 2026 | Notified HLO schedule |
| Uttar Pradesh | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| Uttarakhand | Completed | Reported complete by the national update | July 17, 2026 | PIB national status report |
| West Bengal | Scheduled field period ended | The notified HLO field period ended September 14; whole-State completion is not yet confirmed by a later official notice | September 14, 2026 | PIB West Bengal operational update |
What the Current Status Measures
- The Ministry of Home Affairs reported 31 States and Union Territories complete on August 12. Tamil Nadu then issued a whole-State completion notice on August 31, bringing the directly confirmed total to 32.
- Tripura and West Bengal are not counted as complete solely because their notified field periods have ended. Assam has an active extension in two districts, and Manipur is formally deferred.
- These categories describe census operations. They are not population totals and do not indicate that Census 2027 results have been released.
India Census 2027 Timeline
Census 2027 uses different local Phase I windows and more than one Population Enumeration timetable. Designated snow-bound areas are being counted in September 2026, four jurisdictions have a December 2026–January 2027 schedule, and most remaining areas retain the February 2027 timetable.
| Date or period | Milestone | Status | Data meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 30, 2025 | Decision to include caste enumeration | Completed | Caste information is scheduled for electronic collection during Phase II. |
| June 16, 2025 | Government intent notified in the Gazette of India | Completed | Formal notification of Census 2027. |
| December 12, 2025 | Union Cabinet approved the Census 2027 scheme | Completed | Confirmed the two-phase design, digital collection and national deployment. |
| January 2026 | Phase I period and HLO questions notified | Completed | The HLO schedule contains 33 notified questions. |
| March 5, 2026 | Four national digital systems introduced | Completed | Digital block creation, mobile field collection, self-enumeration and central monitoring. |
| April 1, 2026 | National Phase I rollout began | Active with notified local exceptions | Most State and Union Territory HLO periods fall within April–September 2026; later Gazette notices defer Manipur and extend two Assam districts. |
| July 17, 2026 | National Phase I status report | Published | Twenty-nine States/UTs were reported complete at that stage of the rollout. |
| August 12, 2026 | Updated national Phase I status | Published | The Ministry of Home Affairs reported HLO complete in 31 States/UTs. |
| August 14, 2026 | Phase II Population Enumeration questionnaire notified | Published | The notified Population Enumeration schedule contains 40 information fields. |
| August 17–31, 2026 | Phase II self-enumeration in designated snow-bound areas | Completed | Applied to Ladakh and notified snow-bound non-synchronous areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. |
| August 31, 2026 | Tamil Nadu Phase I completion reported | Completed | Tamil Nadu reported HLO complete across the State after its August field period. |
| September 1–30, 2026 | Population Enumeration in designated snow-bound areas | Under way | Phase II field enumeration is running through September 30 before the October 1 reference date. |
| September 5, 2026 | Manipur HLO deferred | Deferred | The Gazette excludes Manipur from HLO until further declaration. |
| September 17, 2026 | Assam HLO extension notified | Published | HLO in Charaideo and Sivasagar was extended through October 31, 2026. |
| September 30, 2026 | End of the general notified Phase I window | Scheduled | The general April–September HLO window ends, subject to later area-specific notifications such as Assam’s extension and Manipur’s deferment. |
| October 1–5, 2026 | Revisional round for designated snow-bound areas | Scheduled | Follow-up revision period after the September Population Enumeration. |
| October 31, 2026 | Assam district HLO extension ends | Scheduled | Extended HLO period ends in Charaideo and Sivasagar. |
| November 16–30, 2026 | Phase II self-enumeration in four notified jurisdictions | Scheduled | Applies to Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and non-snow-bound areas of Uttarakhand. |
| December 1, 2026–January 4, 2027 | Population Enumeration in four notified jurisdictions | Scheduled | House-to-house Population Enumeration in Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and non-snow-bound Uttarakhand. |
| January 5–9, 2027 | Revisional round in four notified jurisdictions | Scheduled | January 5 at 00:00 is the reference date for these jurisdictions. |
| February 2027 | Population Enumeration across most remaining areas | Scheduled | Person-level Population Enumeration proceeds under the notified Phase II schedule. |
| March 1, 2027 | Main census reference date | Scheduled | The census moment is 00:00 hours for most of India outside the October 1 and January 5 reference-date areas. |
| Date not announced | Provisional and final result releases | Awaiting official calendar | No publication date should be inferred until ORGI issues a release schedule. |
The Two Census Phases Measure Different Things
Phase I prepares the housing and household base for the later person count. It does not produce the final population of India.
| Stage | Timing | Unit covered | Confirmed subject areas | Question status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I: Houselisting and Housing Census | Generally local 30-day periods between April and September 2026, with later notified exceptions in Assam and Manipur | Buildings, census houses and households | Housing condition, household details, amenities and assets | 33 questions notified |
| Phase II: Population Enumeration | September 1–30, 2026 in designated snow-bound areas; December 1, 2026–January 4, 2027 in Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and non-snow-bound Uttarakhand; February 2027 across most remaining areas | Every person within the census coverage rules | Demographic, social, cultural, economic, education, migration, fertility and caste particulars | 40 information fields notified on August 14, 2026 |
What Data Will Be Collected?
Phase I has a notified 33-question HLO schedule. The Phase II Population Enumeration schedule was notified on August 14, 2026 with 40 information fields covering demographic, social and cultural characteristics, education, economic activity, migration, fertility, disability, digital literacy, caste and other person-level particulars.
| Data topic | Census phase | Current confirmation level | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing condition | Phase I | Included in notified HLO scope | Physical and occupancy characteristics of census houses. |
| Household details | Phase I | Included in notified HLO scope | Household identification and housing-use information needed for the later person count. |
| Household amenities | Phase I | Included in notified HLO scope | Access to selected household services and facilities. |
| Household assets | Phase I | Included in notified HLO scope | Possession of selected household assets recorded in the HLO schedule. |
| Demographic particulars | Phase II | Included in notified Phase II schedule | Person-level demographic characteristics are covered by the notified Population Enumeration schedule. |
| Social and cultural particulars | Phase II | Included in notified Phase II schedule | The notified schedule includes person-level social and cultural characteristics. |
| Education | Phase II | Included in notified Phase II schedule | Education and literacy-related characteristics are included in the notified schedule. |
| Economic activity | Phase II | Included in notified Phase II schedule | Work and economic-activity particulars are included in the notified schedule. |
| Migration | Phase II | Included in notified Phase II schedule | Birthplace, previous residence and migration-related particulars are included in the notified schedule. |
| Fertility | Phase II | Included in notified Phase II schedule | Fertility-related particulars are included; this does not mean a total fertility rate will be available immediately. |
| Caste | Phase II | Included in notified Phase II schedule | The notified Population Enumeration schedule includes Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and caste information. |
How Digital Self-Enumeration Works
Self-enumeration is optional and operates on a local timetable. For Phase I, the portal is generally available for 15 days immediately before a State or Union Territory’s door-to-door HLO period. The Phase II self-enumeration window for Ladakh and designated snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand ran from August 17–31 and is now closed. The next notified Phase II window is November 16–30 in Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and non-snow-bound Uttarakhand, before Population Enumeration begins there on December 1.
| Step | Action | Operational detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Local online window opens | The official Self-Enumeration Portal becomes available for the notified 15-day local period. |
| 2 | An eligible household respondent enters HLO information | The web service supports Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. |
| 3 | The portal generates a Self-Enumeration ID | The household retains the unique SE ID after successful submission. |
| 4 | The household shares the SE ID with the enumerator | The enumerator uses the ID during the later field visit to confirm and integrate the information. |
| 5 | Households without self-enumeration are visited normally | Door-to-door enumeration remains in place for households that do not use the online option. |
Online submission does not remove the field stage. The official process still includes an enumerator visit. The SE ID allows the submitted household record to be confirmed during that visit.
The Four Digital Census Systems
| System | Primary user | Purpose | Operational note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houselisting Block Creator web application | Charge Officers | Create Houselisting Blocks digitally using satellite imagery | Supports geographic coverage and reduces omission or duplication risk. |
| HLO Mobile Application | Registered enumerators | Collect and upload Houselisting data in the field | Works offline, supports Android and iOS, and operates in 16 regional languages. |
| Self-Enumeration Portal | Eligible household respondents | Submit household information online before field operations | Generates an SE ID for later confirmation by an enumerator. |
| Census Management and Monitoring System Portal | Census officers at several administrative levels | Plan, manage and monitor census operations | Tracks progress, field performance and operational readiness through a central dashboard. |
Census Count and Current Population Estimates Are Different Measures
Until new census results are released, current population reporting for India continues to rely on sources such as UN and World Bank estimates. Those series are not replacements for a completed census count and do not use the same reference date or method.
| Population measure | Reference | Current status | How it should be read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Completed national census count | Census 2011 | Latest completed Indian census | Direct census count with official geographic detail for the 2011 reference period. |
| Current mid-year or model estimate | Recent UN and World Bank series | Available before Census 2027 results | A harmonized estimate designed for current reporting and comparison, not a 2027 census count. |
| Census 2027 population count | October 1, 2026; January 5, 2027; or March 1, 2027 depending on area | Not yet available | The new count can be reported only after Population Enumeration, processing and official release. |
| Population projection | Future scenario years | Available from projection datasets | A scenario-based estimate using assumptions about fertility, mortality and migration, not an observed count. |
Why the New Census Benchmark Matters
- The 2011 Census remains the latest completed direct national count, while recent headline population figures are estimates.
- Census 2027 is intended to restore current village, town, ward, district, State and Union Territory detail after the long interval since 2011.
- Differences between a future census result and an earlier estimate will require checks of reference date, territorial coverage and source method before comparison.
Census 2027 Results Tracker
The government has not announced a complete publication calendar for provisional and final Census 2027 results. The table separates scheduled collection from data releases that remain undated.
| Release area | Current status | What will be added when official data appear |
|---|---|---|
| Provisional national population | Publication date not announced | National total, reference date and provisional-data notice. |
| State and Union Territory totals | Publication date not announced | Population totals, absolute change and percentage change from the comparable 2011 geography. |
| District and local-area tables | Publication date not announced | District, sub-district, town, village and ward data where released. |
| Age and sex structure | Publication date not announced | Detailed age groups, male and female counts, sex ratios and population-pyramid data. |
| Urban and rural population | Publication date not announced | Urban-rural counts, shares and settlement-level changes under the official census classification. |
| Education and economic activity | Questionnaire notified; publication date not announced | Published tables, classifications and release-specific definitions. |
| Migration and fertility | Publication date not announced | Migration and fertility tables with their census reference periods and definitions. |
| Caste data | Included in notified Phase II schedule; publication calendar not announced | Official table structure, coverage notes and release dates without inferring unpublished categories. |
Data Sources and Methodology
Operational status is dated because Census 2027 is running on different local schedules. A State or Union Territory is labelled completed only when a whole-jurisdiction completion notice is available. An elapsed field schedule alone is not treated as proof of completion. District-level extensions and formal deferrals are shown separately.
| Source | Release or data year | Used for | Measure type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India | 2025–2026 notifications | Gazette status, Phase I period, official census documentation and historical Census 2011 data availability | Official census notification and data catalog |
| Ministry of Home Affairs digital tools release | March 5, 2026 | Two phases, self-enumeration process, 16 languages, digital systems, reference dates and field deployment | Official operational announcement |
| Ministry of Home Affairs Phase I status release | July 17, 2026 | Twenty-nine completed States/UTs, Kerala and Nagaland field status, Tamil Nadu and Tripura dates, and the 33-question HLO count | Official administrative status |
| Ministry of Home Affairs preparatory activities for Census 2027 | August 12, 2026 | Thirty-one completed States/UTs and notified Phase II dates for designated snow-bound areas | Official national status and schedule |
| Directorate of Census Operations, Assam update | August 17, 2026 | Assam self-enumeration total and August 17–September 15 HLO period | Official State operational update |
| Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal update | August 17, 2026 | West Bengal self-enumeration completion and August 16–September 14 HLO period | Official State operational update |
| Census India State and UT HLO schedule | 2026 schedule | Baseline State and UT Phase I windows; later Gazette notices override this schedule where applicable | Official operational schedule |
| ORGI Phase II Population Enumeration questionnaire notification | August 14, 2026 | Notified Population Enumeration schedule and 40 information fields | Official Gazette notification |
| Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu completion update | August 31, 2026 | Whole-State Phase I completion in Tamil Nadu | Official State operational update |
| ORGI Gazette Notification 09 for Manipur | September 5, 2026 | Deferment of Manipur HLO until further declaration | Official Gazette notification |
| ORGI Gazette Notification 11 for Population Enumeration | September 5, 2026 | November self-enumeration, December–January Population Enumeration and January 5 reference date in Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and non-snow-bound Uttarakhand | Official Gazette notification |
| ORGI Gazette Notification 12 for Assam | September 17, 2026 | HLO extension in Charaideo and Sivasagar through October 31 | Official Gazette notification |
| Union Cabinet Census 2027 scheme approval | December 12, 2025 | Census sequence, two-phase schedule, digital design and electronic caste collection | Official scheme approval |
| PIB research note on India’s first digital census | April 25, 2026 | Phase descriptions, self-enumeration sequence and digital systems | Official explanatory publication |
How Status Labels Are Assigned
- “Completed” requires a whole-jurisdiction completion notice. The August 12 national report confirmed 31 States/UTs, and Tamil Nadu reported completion on August 31.
- Tripura and West Bengal remain separate from the confirmed-complete count because their notified field periods ended without a later whole-State completion confirmation as of September 24.
- Assam carries an extension label because HLO in Charaideo and Sivasagar runs through October 31. Manipur is marked deferred under the September 5 Gazette notification.
- Phase II Population Enumeration in designated snow-bound areas is tracked separately from the Phase I State/UT count.
Census Count Note: Phase I completion does not mean the population count is complete. Houselisting and Housing Census records housing and household characteristics and prepares the operational base for Phase II. The Census 2027 national population total is not yet available. Reference dates now vary by area: October 1, 2026 in designated snow-bound non-synchronous areas; January 5, 2027 in Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and non-snow-bound Uttarakhand; and March 1, 2027 across most of the country. Current UN or World Bank population figures are estimates with different dates and methods and should not be relabeled as Census 2027 results.
India Census 2027 FAQ
Is India Census 2027 already under way?
Yes. Phase I began on April 1, 2026 through State- and Union-Territory-specific schedules. The August 12 national release reported Houselisting and Housing Census complete in 31 States and Union Territories, and Tamil Nadu reported completion on August 31. Assam now has a district-level extension through October 31, while Manipur’s HLO is deferred until further declaration. Phase II is already under way in designated snow-bound areas.
When will India’s population be counted?
Population Enumeration is running from September 1 to September 30, 2026 in Ladakh and designated snow-bound non-synchronous areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, followed by a revisional round from October 1 to October 5. Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and non-snow-bound Uttarakhand will use a separate December 1, 2026–January 4, 2027 field period, with self-enumeration from November 16–30. Most remaining areas are scheduled for February 2027.
Is digital self-enumeration mandatory?
No. Self-enumeration is optional. The notified online window precedes the relevant house-to-house operation, and the dates vary by phase and jurisdiction.
Does self-enumeration replace the census field visit?
No. For Phase I, a successful online submission generates an SE ID. The household shares that ID with the enumerator during the later field visit so the information can be confirmed and integrated.
What information will Census 2027 collect?
Phase I uses 33 notified questions on housing condition, household details, amenities and assets. The Phase II Population Enumeration schedule was notified on August 14, 2026 with 40 information fields covering demographic, social and cultural characteristics, education, economic activity, migration, fertility, disability, digital literacy, caste and other person-level particulars.
When will India Census 2027 results be released?
A full official release calendar has not been announced. The population reference date and enumeration timetable do not establish the date on which provisional or final tables will be published.