NEW DELHI—India's census authorities have begun a nationwide rehearsal for the population enumeration phase that includes expanded options for recording caste information, marking a key preparatory step before the country's first full caste enumeration in decades, according to official notices and government statements.
The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner said the pre-test of the Population Enumeration phase is being conducted in selected sample areas from July 6 to July 18, followed by a revisional round through July 20. The exercise is designed to test digital systems, questionnaires and field procedures before the main enumeration scheduled for 2027.
The rehearsal follows the federal government's decision that caste details will be collected during the second phase of the upcoming census, alongside demographic, educational, migration and socio-economic information. Officials have said the population count will be India's first fully digital census, with enumerators using mobile applications and residents also able to submit information through a self-enumeration portal where available.
Government officials have said the rehearsal is intended to evaluate how respondents record caste information under updated digital questionnaires and to identify operational issues before nationwide implementation. The testing includes validation of data entry, digital workflows and procedures for handling responses during field enumeration.
India's Home Ministry announced earlier that caste enumeration would form part of the Population Enumeration phase rather than the initial House Listing and Housing Census. The ministry has said detailed questions for the second phase will be formally notified before nationwide implementation.
The inclusion of comprehensive caste data represents a significant change in India's census process. While Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have been counted in post-independence censuses, the forthcoming exercise is expected to collect broader caste information across the population, following a cabinet decision announced in 2025. Supporters have argued updated data are needed for evidence-based policymaking, while the issue has also generated political debate over affirmative action and resource allocation.
The census, originally due in 2021, was delayed after the COVID-19 pandemic and other logistical factors. The government has scheduled the nationwide exercise in two phases, with housing data collected first and population enumeration to follow, culminating with the reference date of March 1, 2027, for most of the country. Officials say the ongoing rehearsal will help refine procedures before the full rollout of the population enumeration phase.
