India to launch 2027 census with January 25 door-to-door survey

India's next census will begin its door-to-door enumeration phase on January 25, 2027, the government has announced. The official reference date for population data collection has been fixed at 00:00 hours on March 1, 2027, establishing a benchmark for recording demographic information across the country.

The 2027 census will not be conducted in Manipur, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. The decision to exclude these eight regions reflects ongoing administrative and operational constraints identified by the authorities during planning stages.

The decennial census, a comprehensive exercise undertaken every ten years since 1881, serves as the foundation for India's demographic planning and resource allocation across sectors including education, healthcare, and infrastructure development. The enumeration phase typically spans several months, with trained field investigators visiting households to collect detailed population data.

The March 1 reference date ensures standardized data collection across participating regions, allowing for accurate comparison with previous census cycles. Officials have begun preparatory work including recruitment and training of enumerators to ensure smooth implementation of the nationwide exercise.