Gazette of India notification issued June 16, 2025, marking the formal commencement of the 16th Census. It will conducted in Two‑phase.Begins October 1, 2026 in snowbound areas (Ladakh, J&K, Himachal, Uttarakhand), then rolls out nationwide. Population enumeration Begins March 1, 2027 (00:00 hrs), with data collected on demographics, socio-economics, religion, language, and—crucially—caste. Caste enumeration reinstated nationwide for the first time since 1931, covering all communities—not just SC/ST.Enumerators (some 3–3.4 million, mainly school teachers) use mobile apps; citizens have a self-enumeration portal for secure online data updates. Census to be done at an Expected cost of ~₹13,000 crores.
The Data will trigger parliamentary delimitation and implement the 33% women’s reservation in Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Home Ministry affirmed caste count is official—responding to political doubts, including from Congress
Caste count: Nationwide, first time in nearly a century. Data release target is ~9 months post-enumeration, by end‑2027.
