The exercise marks a significant development, as caste data is set to be collected for the first time since the 1931 Census, after a gap of 95 years.
The first phase of the Census, which involved house-listing and household enumeration, was completed in June 2026. The upcoming second phase will focus on collecting further information from people across the country.
However, the schedule will not initially cover five states that are due to hold Assembly elections, including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. The second phase will be conducted in the remaining parts of the country between January 25 and February 28, 2027.
The inclusion of caste-related questions is expected to make this Census particularly significant, as the collected information could provide updated data on the country’s social composition. The exercise will be closely watched by policymakers, researchers and political parties.
