India to Conduct Population Census from January 25 to February 28, 2027; March 1 Set as Reference Date

The population census of India is scheduled to be held between 25 January to 28 February, 2027. This was announced by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India on 30 October 2026 and will include both self enumeration (10 to 24 January) and house-to-house enumeration. In some states, people will not vote, and the census will not take place in snowy areas during this time.

Census 2027: Important dates

As stated in the notice from the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, the population census will take place throughout all states and union territories.

There will be three stages:

Stage	Date
Self Enumeration	10 to 24 January 2027
House-to-House Enumeration	25 January to 28 February 2027
Reference Date	1 March 2027 – 00:00hrs
Revision Round	1 to 5 March 2027

The reference date is the specific date and time which the population will be taken from. In this case, it will be 00:00hrs on 1 March 2027.

What Is Self Enumeration?

Self Enumeration is a way for an individual or household to provide their information.

In 2027, this will take place between 10 and 24 January.

It gives households another option to provide their information.

This is part of their wider push to use digital methods and should not be confused with the overall enumeration.

Which States And Areas Will Be Excluded?

Some areas will not take place between 25 January and 28 February.

The following states and union territories have been excluded from the dates above:

State/UT	Notes
Manipur	Excluded until further notice
Goa	Separate dates
Uttar Pradesh:	Separate dates
Punjab	Separate dates
Uttarakhand	Separate dates
Ladakh	Separate dates

Snowy non-synchronous areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir have also been excluded.

No alternate dates were mentioned in the notice. The census will be notified separately.

What Is The Census Of India?

The Census of India is the official way of gathering information about the demographics of the population.

This includes how big the population is, where they live, their age, literacy levels, occupation, and living conditions.

It is carried out by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India within the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The information gathered can be used to shape public policy, plan development, for administration and research.