The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have highlighted the significance of Census 2027, which commenced on Wednesday, emphasizing its crucial role in government planning and policy execution. The Congress has advocated for the incorporation of Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the census. Registrar General and Census Commissioner Mritunjay Kumar Narayan disclosed that Census-2027 will be carried out in two phases – House Listing (HLO) and Population Enumeration (PE), with March 1, 2027, designated as the reference date.
Notably, caste information will be part of the second phase – Population Enumeration. Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule stressed that the census data will aid in the effective implementation of government initiatives. He mentioned, “We will obtain precise population data from 2011 to 2026, facilitating appropriate planning for future schemes based on census outcomes.” Uttar Pradesh Minister Danish Azad Ansari also echoed the census’s importance, emphasizing its role in policy formulation and scheme implementation for efficient governance.
Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi noted the nationwide census post-2011, including a caste-based census. He highlighted the developmental impact based on the new census reports. PDP MLA Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi supported the census, underscoring its advantages in education and employment opportunities for all sections of society. Senior Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao urged for the inclusion of OBC members in Census 2027, emphasizing parity with SC and ST communities.
Registrar General and Census Commissioner Narayan outlined the timeline for the census process across states and union territories. He mentioned that 11 states and union territories will undertake the HLO process in April 2026, with subsequent states following in May, June, July, and August. The Population Enumeration phase will focus on collecting individual-level data, including age, gender, occupation, literacy, and caste details.
