India's Caste Census dates announced: Starts October 2026
The dates of caste census in India have been announced. This census will be held in two phases, the first phase will start from 1 October 2026 and the second from 1 March 2027. In the first phase, census will be conducted in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The schedule for the caste census in India has been announced. It will take place in two stages. The initial stage is set to commence on October 1, 2026. The subsequent stage will kick off on March 1, 2027. During the first stage, the caste census will be carried out in four states.
This encompasses the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir. The nation's most recent census took place in 2011. The cabinet meeting, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sanctioned the caste census. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed that Congress administrations have resisted the caste census.
Since 1947, no caste census has been conducted. Instead, the Congress party carried out caste surveys during the UPA government's tenure, with various states conducting these surveys for political reasons. Census topics are listed at serial number 69 in the Central List of Article 246 of the Constitution, making it a Central subject. Nevertheless, several states have performed caste censuses via surveys. Some states executed this process efficiently, while others approached it with political motives and lacked transparency.
According to PIB's statement, it has been resolved to carry out the Census-2027 in two stages, alongside the caste census. The reference date for Census-2027 is set at midnight on March 1, 2027. For the Union Territory of Ladakh and the snowy regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the reference date will be October 2026. In line with Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948, the announcement to conduct the census with these reference dates will be published in the Official Gazette on June 16, 2025.
The Census of India is carried out under the Census Act of 1948 and the Census Rules of 1990. The most recent Census took place in 2011 over two phases: Phase I, which involved House Listing from April 1 to September 30, 2010, and Phase II, which was the Census from February 9 to February 28, 2011. The reference date was midnight on March 1, 2011. In the snow-covered areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, the Census was conducted from September 11 to September 30, 2010, with the reference date being midnight on October 1, 2010.
The 2021 Census was planned to occur in two stages: the first from April to September 2020 and the second in February 2021. Preparations for the initial phase were finalized, and field operations were set to start in certain States and Union Territories on April 1, 2020. Nevertheless, the census activities were delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic spreading throughout the nation.