India is set to redefine its demographic mapping with the Census 2027, marking a pivotal shift to a fully digital enumeration process. This ambitious undertaking, following a six-year hiatus since the last census, promises enhanced accuracy and efficiency. Preparations are well underway, including a nationwide pre-test phase from November 10 to 30, 2025. This critical dry run will assess the functionality of new mobile applications, survey methodologies, and logistical preparedness across sample areas in all states and Union Territories. A significant innovation is the introduction of self-enumeration, allowing citizens to participate directly by submitting their information digitally between November 1 and 7, 2025, a feature now incorporated into the Census Act. Furthermore, the 2027 Census will feature nationwide caste enumeration and the geotagging of every building, linking them to GIS maps through Digital Layout Mapping (DLM). The census operations are planned in two phases: Housing Listing from April to September 2026, and Population Enumeration commencing in February 2027, with some high-altitude regions beginning in September 2026. The extended gap has been instrumental in developing and testing these advanced digital tools for a modern census.
