New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry has issued a strong rebuttal to what it terms a "deliberate misinformation campaign" by opposition parties regarding caste enumeration in the upcoming Census 2027. The ministry emphasized that the government remains fully committed to capturing caste data, but only during the second stage of the census process, following established historical protocols.
Clarifying the Census 2027 Timeline
The controversy erupted after opposition leaders questioned the government's seriousness about caste enumeration based solely on the recently notified "houselisting" questionnaire for Census 2027. The home ministry spokesperson clarified that this represents only the first phase of the comprehensive census operation.
The population enumeration phase, scheduled for February 2027, will specifically include questions about caste, mirroring the methodology employed in previous national censuses. This two-stage approach has been consistently followed in Indian census operations for decades.
Historical Precedent Supports Current Approach
Government sources pointed to historical precedent to counter the opposition's allegations. During Census 2011, the questionnaire for the population enumeration stage was notified by the then UPA government only toward the end of the first "houselisting and housing" phase, which occurred between April 1 and September 30, 2010.
The notification issued on August 31, 2010, listed 29 questions for census officers to collect information through housing schedules. Similarly, the "houselisting" schedule for Census 2011, notified on February 25, 2010, contained 30 questions, compared to the 33 questions included in the Census 2027 housing schedule notified on January 22 of this year.
Ministry's Official Statement
"Full information on Census 2027 was put out in a press statement dated December 12, 2025. Yet, some people are intentionally trying to spread falsehoods about Census 2027, particularly the caste census," stated the home ministry spokesperson in a social media post.
The statement came a day after Congress leader Jairam Ramesh reiterated allegations questioning the government's intent to conduct caste-wise enumeration. The ministry attached its December 2025 press release, issued after the Union cabinet approved the proposal to conduct Census 2027 at a cost of Rs 11,718 crore, which clearly outlines the two-phase approach.
Future Timeline for Caste Questions
According to sources familiar with census planning, the questions to be asked during the population enumeration phase in February 2027, including those intended to record respondents' caste information, may be formally notified only in August or September of this year.
This timeline reflects standard census preparation procedures. In fact, the questionnaire for the second stage of Census 2021 had not yet been notified when the COVID-19 pandemic forced its postponement just days before it was scheduled to begin on April 1, 2020.
The home ministry's comprehensive response aims to clarify the procedural aspects of census operations while reaffirming the government's commitment to conducting a thorough caste enumeration as part of the national population count.
