Page 19 - NIS English 16-31 May, 2026

Understand the complete

process of the census

States and Union Territories play a crucial role in the smooth conduct of the census. This is because various
grassroots-level activities, including data collection, verification, monitoring, supervision, and progress review, are
carried out by census officers appointed by the respective state governments and union territory administrations, in
accordance with the provisions of the Census Act, 1948, and the Census Rules, 1990.

1 time The census will be conducted digitally 1 time A ‘Self-Enumeration’ option will also be available
st
st
33 Questions to be asked
Why is it referred to as ‘Census 2027’? during house listing and
housing census
n The Government of India officially notified
'Census 2027' in the Gazette of India on n The phase of house listing and housing census will be
June 16, 2025. One might ask: if this two- conducted across the entire country between April 1
phase census commences in April 2026, and September 30, 2026.
why is it named 'Census 2027'? n During this six-month period, each state and union
n The answer lies in the fact that the territory will complete this fieldwork within a specific
reference date for the final count of 30-day window, as notified by the respective
the population will be 00:00 hours state/union territory government.
on March 1, 2027. This means that n During the house-listing and
individuals born by 12:00 midnight on housing census phase, detailed
February 28 will be included in the information regarding housing
Census 2027 count. Conversely, status, household amenities, and
those who pass away by this available assets will be collected.
specific date and time will not n A total of 33 questions have
be included in the count. been notified for the first phase

n In the case of the Union Territories in January 2026 to capture
of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir, key indicators, which
as well as the snow-bound, provide a foundation for
inaccessible areas of the states evidence-based planning,
of Uttarakhand and Himachal policy formulation, and
Pradesh, this reference date will targeted welfare schemes.
be 00:00 hours on October 1, 2026.

all of these features simultaneously. The concept of highly developed civilization. This civilization featured
the modern census emerged in the 17th and 18th cen- large and populous cities, well-constructed buildings,
turies, encompassing the entire population of a nation temples, brick-built public structures, and various other
along with significant demographic characteristics. amenities comparable to those utilized by the people
of Mesopotamia and Egypt during that era. Ancient
HISTORY OF THE CENSUS IN INDIA BEFORE literature, specifically the Rigveda, makes it evident
1872 that the population was sparse and scattered across
Excavations at Harappa and Mohenjo-daro have vast regions in small villages. The existence of a dense
revealed that by the third or fourth millennium BCE— population was further corroborated by the army of
and perhaps even much earlier—India possessed a Alexander the Great, which invaded India in 327–326

May 16-31, 2026 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 17