Caste enumeration

In the news

• Census 2027 first phase nears completion, PM calls it a national responsibility 28 September 2026 · The Hindu

  Where does India's first digital, caste-counting Census stand, and why does it matter?

• Census 2027: no decision yet on how open-field caste entries will be sorted 26 September 2026 · The Hindu

  If every household writes its own caste name, how will the Census turn that into usable data?

• Census count advanced in four poll-bound States, formally deferred in Manipur 6 September 2026 · The Hindu

  Why will Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa be counted two months before the rest of India?

Key facts

• The Census is conducted under the Census Act, 1948, and 'Census' is a subject in the Union List (Entry 69) of the Seventh Schedule. (28 September 2026)
• The Census is carried out by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs. (28 September 2026)
• The Census is conducted under the Census Act, 1948, and 'Census' is a Union subject (Entry 69 of the Union List). (26 September 2026)
• Every Census since 1951 has enumerated Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; the 1931 Census was the last to count all castes. (26 September 2026)
• In Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa and non-snow-bound Uttarakhand, the Census 2027 reference date is 00:00 hours on 5 January 2027. (6 September 2026)
• For most of India the reference date remains 1 March 2027; for Ladakh and the snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand it is 1 October 2026. (6 September 2026)

Previous-year questions

1. 2026 · GS2 · 10 marks Is the right to vote a fundamental right? Discuss the position of the Election Commission of India while undertaking the revision of electoral rolls. Can it also examine the question of citizenship of the voters?
2. 2024 · GS1 · 15 marks Despite comprehensive policies for equity and social justice, underprivileged sections are not yet getting the full benefits of affirmative action envisaged by the Constitution. Comment.
3. 2023 · GS1 · 15 marks Why is caste identity in India both fluid and static?
4. 2020 · GS1 · 10 marks Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian Society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations.
5. 2018 · GS1 · 10 marks "Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence, caste system cannot be eradicated in India." Comment.
6. 2014 · GS2 · 12.5 marks Two parallel run schemes of the Government, viz the Adhar card and NPR, one of voluntary and the other as compulsory, have led to debates at national levels and also litigations. On merits, discuss whether or not both…