---
title: "India's 2027 Census to Include Caste, COVID Vaccination, and ID Details"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/india-census-2027-caste-covid-vaccination-id-details-pxn7b
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Politics
published: 2026-08-14T05:30:24.734Z
modified: 2026-08-14T09:30:05.507Z
language: en-IN
---

# India's 2027 Census to Include Caste, COVID Vaccination, and ID Details

India's upcoming 2027 Census will collect 40 categories of data, including for the first time details on caste beyond Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. New questions will also cover COVID vaccination status, various identification proofs, and digital literacy.

## Key takeaways

- The 2027 Census in India will collect data on 40 categories, marking a significant expansion in scope.
- For the first time, the census will record caste details for individuals not belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes.
- New questions will inquire about COVID-19 vaccination status, various identification documents, and digital literacy.
- The enumeration process will begin in select regions on August 17, 2026, with the main phase in February 2027.

The Union Government has finalized 40 questions for the 2027 Census, which will include unprecedented data collection on citizens' caste, COVID-19 vaccination status, and various identification documents. This marks the first time that caste information, beyond Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, will be formally recorded in independent India.

The second phase of the Population Census 2027, scheduled for February 2027, will incorporate these new questions. A preliminary "pre-test" conducted in July 2026 across 16 states and union territories indicated that respondents would declare their caste in an open column, a methodology expected to be retained.

Led by Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, the expanded questionnaire will also seek information on Aadhaar numbers, mobile numbers, voter IDs, bank accounts, and COVID-19 vaccination details. These additions aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the population.

## What Happened

The Union Government officially notified 40 questions for the 2027 Census on August 14, 2026. These questions cover a wide range of demographic, social, and economic aspects, including a significant addition of caste details and health-related information like COVID vaccination status. The notification was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Census Act, 1948.

## Key Facts

- The 2027 Census will collect 40 categories of information.
- For the first time in independent India, caste details beyond Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will be recorded.
- The second phase of the Census is scheduled for February 2027, with early enumeration starting August 17, 2026, in Ladakh and snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.
- Questions will include COVID-19 vaccination status, Aadhaar numbers, mobile numbers, voter IDs, and bank account details.
- A "pre-test" for the Population Enumeration phase was conducted from July 1 to 20, 2026, in 16 states and Union Territories.

## Background

The Census of India is a decennial exercise conducted under the Census Act of 1948. While Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have historically been enumerated, the inclusion of general caste details is a new development. The government has expanded the scope to gather more granular data on citizens, including their digital presence and health interventions.

## What Happens Next

The Census enumeration for the second phase will commence in the remainder of the country in February 2027, following the early start in specific snow-bound regions in August 2026. The collected data will provide a detailed demographic profile of India.

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