25 March 2026·PIB

QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE SECOND PHASE OF CENSUS

In this note

1. At a Glance

The Second Phase (Population Enumeration, PE) questionnaire of Census 2027 — including the caste column — will be notified before the PE phase commences, as per the established procedure under the Census Act, 1948 [1][3].
The Phase II questionnaire is finalized on inputs from Ministries, Departments, organisations and Census data users [1].
Examinable because Census 2027 is India's first digital, self-enumeration-enabled Census and the first caste-enumerated Census since 1931 [2][3].

25 March 2026: MoS Home Nityanand Rai confirmed in a Rajya Sabha written reply that Phase II questions (including caste) will be notified before PE begins [1].
Phase I (Houselisting) questions were already notified in January 2026; Phase I fieldwork begins 1 April 2026 [2][3].

Census Act, 1948 (Sections 3–8) empowers the Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India (RGCCI) to design schedules and add questions without amending the Act [5].
30 April 2025: Cabinet (CCPA) approved inclusion of caste in main Census [4][5].
4 June 2025: Cabinet approved Scheme for Conduct of Census 2027 [4].
16 June 2025: Gazette notification of intent to conduct Census 2027 under Section 3, Census Act 1948 [2][5].
Last full caste enumeration: 1931; SECC 2011 was a separate exercise (not Census) [5].

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs; Implementing body: Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India (RGCCI) [1][2].
Statutory base: Census Act, 1948; rules under Census Rules, 1990 [5].
Two phases:
Phase I – Houselisting & Housing Census (HLO): April–September 2026 (30-day window per State/UT; 15-day self-enumeration window before) [3].
Phase II – Population Enumeration (PE): 1 March 2027 reference date for most of India; 1 October 2026 for snow-bound areas — Ladakh, J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand [3][5].
First digital Census with self-enumeration option via web portal/mobile app [2][3].
Caste data to be collected in Phase II, integrated into main Census schedule (not a separate survey) [5].

Legal/Constitutional: Census is a Union subject — Entry 69, List I, Seventh Schedule. Caste column added administratively under Sections 3–8 of Census Act, 1948 — no amendment required [5].
Social: First post-Independence enumeration of all castes (earlier Censuses recorded only SCs/STs); intended to inform reservation, welfare-targeting and sub-categorisation debates (Justice Rohini Commission on OBC sub-categorisation) [5].
Administrative: Two-phase design separates housing data from individual data; digital capture aims to reduce the gap between enumeration and data release [2][3].
Ethical/Governance: Government framing — embedding caste in main Census (vs separate SECC-type survey) to protect social harmony and ensure statutory rigour [5].
Federal: States/UTs decide 30-day window within the April–September 2026 Phase I band — cooperative federalism in scheduling [3].

30 Apr 2025: CCPA approves caste enumeration in Census 2027 [4][5].
4 Jun 2025: Union Cabinet approves the Scheme of Conduct of Census 2027 [4].
16 Jun 2025: Gazette notification of intent under Section 3, Census Act 1948 [2].
Jan 2026: Phase I (HLO) questionnaire notified [2].
25 Mar 2026: Rajya Sabha reply — Phase II questions (incl. caste) to be notified later as per procedure [1].
1 Apr 2026: Phase I fieldwork begins [3].

Statutory authority for Census questions: Sections 3–8, Census Act, 1948 [5].
Phase II PE reference dates: 1 Oct 2026 (Ladakh, J&K, HP, Uttarakhand) and 1 Mar 2027 (rest of India) [3][5].
Phase I HLO window: April–September 2026 [3].
Intent notified in Gazette of India on 16 June 2025 [2].
Census 2027 is India's 16th Census and first digital Census [2].
Last caste-wise enumeration of all castes: Census of 1931 [5].
SECC 2011 was conducted by Ministry of Rural Development + Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation — not under Census Act [5].
Subject "Census" lies under Entry 69, Union List, Seventh Schedule [general constitutional fact].
Phase II questionnaire including caste column will be notified before PE commences [1].
Self-enumeration window precedes house-to-house enumeration by 15 days in Phase I [3].
Implementing officer: Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India under MHA [2].
Cabinet approval for caste inclusion: 30 April 2025 [5].

GS-II: Governance — population policy, welfare data; Polity — reservation jurisprudence and data evidence.
GS-I: Society — caste, social stratification, demographic change.
Likely stems:
"Discuss the constitutional and statutory framework underpinning the Census 2027, and evaluate the implications of including caste enumeration in the main Census."
"A caste census is necessary for equitable policy-making but raises risks of social polarisation. Examine."
"Digital and self-enumeration in Census 2027 marks a paradigm shift. Analyse the administrative challenges."

SECC 2011 — earlier socio-economic-caste exercise; contrast in legal basis.
Justice Rohini Commission — OBC sub-categorisation needs caste data.
NPR (National Population Register) — usually updated alongside HLO.
Mandal Commission (1980) & 27% OBC reservation — policy beneficiary of caste data.
Article 340 / Articles 15(4), 16(4) — constitutional basis for backward-class enumeration.
Bihar Caste Survey 2023 — State-level precedent.
Delimitation Commission & Women's Reservation Act, 2023 — both contingent on first Census after enactment.
Census Act, 1948 & Census Rules, 1990 — enabling legal architecture.

Confusing SECC 2011 (Ministry of Rural Development; not under Census Act) with the Census (MHA; under Census Act 1948) [5].
Treating caste inclusion as needing a statutory amendment — it does not; added by RGCCI under Sections 3–8 [5].
Mixing up reference dates: 1 March 2027 is for most of India; snow-bound States/UTs are 1 October 2026 [3].
Assuming last caste-wise count was 2011 — it was 1931 (SCs/STs continued to be counted thereafter) [5].
Assuming the Phase II questionnaire is already notified — it is yet to be notified as of the March 2026 RS reply [1].