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of census operations, Census 2027 is emerging Integrated into Census 2027:
as a symbol of technological revolution within The Spirit of Sabka Saath,
the era of “Digital India.” The digital tools em-
ployed in this census are equipped with robust Sabka Vikas, Sabka
encryption and multi-level authentication Vishwas, Sabka Prayas...
mechanisms to ensure high-level data security.
A dedicated portal—dubbed the Census Man-
agement and Monitoring System (CMMS)—has
been developed to manage and monitor the
entire census process in real-time. Data security
has also been accorded top priority.
SOCIAL HARMONY: THE FIRST-EVER
CASTE CENSUS
For the first time in independent India, the 2027
Census will include a caste enumeration of all
communities. Since independence, caste has
been excluded from all censuses conducted to
date. Some states have conducted separate
caste surveys—with varying degrees of trans-
parency and intent—raising concerns regarding The census is a subject falling under the Union
List, wherein the entire administrative machinery
politicization. Therefore, to safeguard social of both the States and the Union Territories works
harmony, it has been decided to incorporate the Sabka Saath in unison. Throughout this entire exercise, ‘Team
caste enumeration into the main census itself, India’ operates with the spirit of Sabka Saath to
rather than conducting it as a separate survey. ensure the collection of foolproof data.
The enumeration of caste for all communities This time, caste-based enumeration has been
will be carried out alongside this census. To this incorporated into the data collected during the census.
end, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, This initiative aims to bring to light statistics regarding
during its meeting on April 30, 2025, decided Sabka Vikas backward or marginalised sections of society, thereby
to include caste enumeration in the upcoming facilitating the formulation and implementation of
census—specifically, Census 2027. Given the development schemes for the benefit of all.
immense social and demographic diversity Data security within the Census framework has been
within the country—along with the associated ensured in such a manner that the trust of ordinary
challenges—caste data will be collected electron- citizens remains unshaken. During this campaign,
ically during the second phase of Census 2027, whatever information the general public provides
known as the Population Enumeration (PE). The Sabka Vishwas is accepted with trust and treated as the absolute
caste enumeration will take place during the truth. This embodies and upholds the spirit of Sabka
Vishwas. Moreover, thanks to the introduction of the
second phase of the census; questions related digital census this time around, the data collected will
to caste will be included in the questionnaire be highly accurate and available much more rapidly.
when it is released for this second phase.
The Census is now evolving into a nationwide
THE FOUNDATION OF THE JOURNEY movement. This marks the first instance where
TOWARDS A DEVELOPED INDIA Sabka Prayas citizens have been provided the opportunity for
‘self-enumeration’. Similarly, extensive awareness
The mascots for Census 2027—”Pragati” (a programmes have also been conducted. This collective
female enumerator) and “Vikas” (a male enu- effort, this spirit of Sabka Prayas, serves as the very
merator)—have been introduced as friendly foundation of a Viksit Bharat.
24 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || May 16-31, 2026
