The Central Government has issued the notification for the population enumeration phase (Phase-2) of Census 2027, marking a significant step towards the country's next nationwide census exercise. The latest phase introduces several new data points, including details about the date and place of birth of parents, passport information, and voluntary collection of Aadhaar numbers.
According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the population enumeration exercise in snow-bound areas of four northern states and Union Territories will be conducted from September 1 to September 30, 2026. Before the field exercise begins, residents in these regions will have the opportunity to complete self-enumeration between August 17 and August 30.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Centre has notified Phase-2 of Census 2027.
Population enumeration in snow-bound regions will be conducted from September 1–30, 2026.
Self-enumeration will be available from August 17–30.
The Census will collect the date and place of birth of parents for the first time.
Passport details will be recorded where available
Aadhaar numbers can be provided voluntarily and are not mandatory.
The notification indicates that the detailed Phase-2 questionnaire is expected to be released shortly.
One of the key additions in this phase is the collection of the date and place of birth of both parents, information that is considered relevant for demographic records and citizenship-related documentation. This is the first time such information will form part of the population enumeration process.
The questionnaire will also include passport details, wherever available. In addition, Aadhaar numbers may be provided voluntarily, with the government clarifying that sharing Aadhaar information is not mandatory.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
Census data plays a crucial role in national planning, governance and the allocation of public resources. The introduction of additional demographic fields, including parents' birth details and passport information, represents a significant change in the scope of data collection for Census 2027.
The Census is one of India's largest administrative exercises and serves as the primary source of demographic, social and economic data used for policy formulation, resource allocation and development planning. The upcoming Census 2027 is expected to provide updated population statistics after a gap following the postponement of the previous census exercise.
Officials are expected to release further operational guidelines and the complete questionnaire ahead of the commencement of the enumeration process.
