UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PREPARATORY ACTIVITIES FOR CENSUS 2027

Question 1

With reference to the schedule of Census 2027, consider the following statements:
1. The reference date for Census 2027 is 00:00 hours of 1st March 2027 for all States and Union Territories without exception.
2. Phase-I, the Houselisting and Housing Census, is spread over April to September 2026, with field work in each State/UT confined to a 30-day period.
3. Population Enumeration is scheduled for February 2027 across the entire country, no area being enumerated earlier than that month.
4. Census 2027 follows the Census of 2011, the Census due in 2021 having been deferred on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Which of the statements given above are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 3

Answer

2 and 4

Answer

1, 2 and 4

Answer

3 only

Question 2

How many questions are canvassed in the schedule of Phase-I of Census 2027, covering housing conditions, household amenities and assets?

Accepted Answer

33 questions

Answer

29 questions

Answer

34 questions

Answer

36 questions

Question 3

The decision taken in April 2025 to enumerate castes as part of the forthcoming Census, rather than through a separate exercise, was taken by which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister

Answer

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister

Answer

The Group of Ministers constituted to examine the Socio-Economic and Caste Census

Answer

The National Commission for Backward Classes, under the Ministry of Social Justice

Question 4

With reference to caste enumeration in Census 2027, consider the following statements:
1. Until the Census of 2011, only Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were systematically enumerated in the decennial Census.
2. Caste particulars in Census 2027 will be captured during Phase-I, the Houselisting and Housing Census.
3. The Socio-Economic and Caste Census was carried out as an exercise separate from the decennial Census.
4. Census is enumerated in the Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule, which enables individual States to conduct their own caste censuses under the Census Act, 1948.
Which of the statements given above are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

2 and 4

Answer

1 and 3

Answer

1, 2 and 4

Answer

4 only

Question 5

The mobile application used by enumerators and the self-enumeration portal of Census 2027 have been made available in how many languages?

Accepted Answer

16 languages

Answer

12 languages

Answer

14 languages

Answer

19 languages

Question 6

Consider the following as components of the digital architecture deployed for Census 2027:
1. Census Management and Monitoring System portal, used for appointment of functionaries, training and near real-time monitoring.
2. Houselisting Block Creator, a web mapping application used to delineate houselisting blocks.
3. National Population Register Updation Portal, through which households submit their Census 2027 self-enumeration responses.
4. A mobile application available on Android and iOS through which enumerators collect and submit schedules.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 4

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Answer

1, 3 and 4

Question 7

With reference to the evolution and legal framework of the Census in India, consider the following statements:
1. Census 2027 will be the 16th Census in the series and the 8th since Independence.
2. The first synchronous Census in India was conducted in 1881.
3. Census operations are governed by the Census Act, 1948 read with the Census Rules, 1990.
4. The first modern population census in India, conducted between 1865 and 1872, was carried out simultaneously across all regions of the country.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

1 and 4 only

Answer

2 and 4 only

Answer

3 and 4 only

Question 8

Consider the following statements comparing Census 2027 with the Census of 2011:
1. Census 2027 is being conducted after a gap of sixteen years from the previous Census, the exercise due in 2021 having been deferred owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Whereas the schedules of the 2011 Census were canvassed on paper, Census 2027 collects data through mobile applications with near real-time monitoring through a dedicated portal.
3. In addition to the field functionaries appointed by State and district administrations, Census 2027 engages about 18,600 technical personnel for a period of about 550 days.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

1 only

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Question 9

For the purpose of Census 2027, the boundaries of administrative units of the country stand frozen for which one of the following periods?

Accepted Answer

1 January 2026 to 31 March 2027

Answer

1 April 2026 to 30 September 2026

Answer

1 October 2025 to 1 March 2027

Answer

16 June 2025 to 31 December 2026

Question 10

For Census 2027, Population Enumeration in certain non-synchronous areas is advanced to September 2026 with a reference date of 00:00 hours of 1 October 2026. Consider the following as areas covered by this arrangement:
1. The Union Territory of Ladakh
2. Snow-bound non-synchronous areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir
3. Snow-bound areas of the State of Sikkim
4. Snow-bound areas of the States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 4

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Answer

3 and 4 only

Question 11

While enumerators and supervisors for Census 2027 are appointed by the State and district administrations, the Census as a whole is conducted under the overall direction of which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs

Answer

The National Sample Survey Office, functioning under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

Answer

The National Statistical Commission, an autonomous apex body advising on official statistics

Answer

The National Population Register Directorate, functioning under the Ministry of Rural Development

Question 12

With reference to the pre-test conducted ahead of Census 2027, consider the following statements:
1. The pre-test for Phase-I was conducted from 10 to 30 November 2025 in all States and Union Territories.
2. The pre-test covered about 5,000 census blocks.
3. The pre-test was confined to trialling the mobile application, the appointment and training of field functionaries being kept outside its scope.
4. An option of self-enumeration was available during the pre-test, from 1 to 7 November 2025.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

3 only

Answer

1 and 3

Answer

2 and 4

Answer

1, 2 and 4

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PREPARATORY ACTIVITIES FOR CENSUS 2027

Q2. How many questions are canvassed in the schedule of Phase-I of Census 2027, covering housing conditions, household amenities and assets?

Q3. The decision taken in April 2025 to enumerate castes as part of the forthcoming Census, rather than through a separate exercise, was taken by which one of the following?

Q5. The mobile application used by enumerators and the self-enumeration portal of Census 2027 have been made available in how many languages?

Q9. For the purpose of Census 2027, the boundaries of administrative units of the country stand frozen for which one of the following periods?

Q11. While enumerators and supervisors for Census 2027 are appointed by the State and district administrations, the Census as a whole is conducted under the overall direction of which one of the following?