INDIA DISABILITY WATCH

The Government of India has formally announced the pre-test for the first phase of the Census of India 2027, marking the start of preparations for the country’s largest demographic exercise. The notification, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs through the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, was published in the Gazette of India on 16 October 2025.

According to the notification (S.O. 4698 E), the pre-test for the first phase, covering 2025. Before fieldwork begins, residents in these areas will have the option to provide their details through self-enumeration, available from 1 November to 7 November 2025.

A Step Toward India’s First Digital Census

This pre-test will pave the way for India’s first fully digital census, as announced earlier by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The 2027 Census will introduce a mobile application for enumerators, a Census Management and Monitoring Portal, and options for digital self-enumeration by citizens. These features aim to make the process more efficient, transparent, and data-secure.

The Census will be conducted in two phases, first, the Houselisting and Housing Census, followed by the Population Enumeration phase. The reference date for enumeration will be 1 March 2027 across most of India, and 1 October 2026 in snowbound regions such as parts of Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

Purpose of the Pre-Test

The pre-test is designed to assess and fine-tune every aspect of census operations before the nationwide rollout. It will test the effectiveness of enumeration methods, field logistics, and the functionality of digital systems such as the mobile app and data validation tools. It will also help identify operational challenges in diverse geographic and connectivity conditions.

In several states, sample areas have already been identified. For example, Goa will conduct its pre-test in Corgao village (Pernem taluka) and parts of Margao municipal area. Similar exercises are being planned in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and other states to evaluate local preparedness.

The pre-test will not only evaluate the technological readiness of the census system but also the preparedness of enumerators, supervisors, and training modules. The learnings will directly inform the methodology and planning of the full-scale Census 2027.

Legal and Administrative Framework

The pre-test has been notified under Section 17A of the Census Act, 1948, read with Rule 6D of the Census Rules, 1990, which empowers the Central Government to extend the provisions of the Act for conducting preliminary exercises before the main enumeration.

Issuing the notification, Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, emphasised that the pre-test represents a crucial milestone in ensuring the 2027 Census is accurate, inclusive, and future-ready. The findings from this phase will guide the fine-tuning of questions, enumeration tools, and operational protocols.

Broader Context and Future Steps

The Census 2027 will collect detailed data on housing, amenities, socio-economic conditions, and digital access. It is also expected to include a caste enumeration, marking the first time since 1931 that data on caste will be comprehensively gathered. However, reports suggest that the upcoming pre-test will focus mainly on testing digital infrastructure rather than collecting caste data.

Preparatory meetings for the Census were held in New Delhi in July 2025, involving Census Directors and senior state officials. States have been advised to freeze administrative boundaries by 31 December 2025 to ensure consistency in data collection.

Towards an Inclusive and Data-Driven Future

The Census of India remains the foundation for evidence-based planning and policymaking, influencing everything from welfare schemes and budget allocations to electoral representation. The launch of the pre-test marks a major step in modernising this century-old exercise, ensuring that the 2027 Census reflects India’s diversity with greater accuracy and accessibility.