New Delhi: In a crucial move towards the preparation of India’s next Census, the Government of India has instructed all states and Union Territories to finalise any proposed changes in administrative boundaries by December 31, 2025. This freeze on boundary modifications will set the framework for organizing the 2027 Census, the nation’s 16th population enumeration and the first after a gap of 16 years.
In an official letter addressed to all chief secretaries, Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, emphasized that no changes in district, tehsil, taluka, police station, municipal, or village boundaries will be entertained after this date. This freeze ensures that Census data collection proceeds uniformly and without duplication or oversight.
According to Census protocols, once boundaries are frozen, a minimum gap of three months must elapse before Census-related activities can begin. During this time, administrative units are divided into standardized and manageable units known as enumeration blocks, with each block assigned to an individual enumerator. This helps maintain the integrity of the enumeration process.
The first phase, termed Houselisting Operations (HLO), is scheduled to begin on April 1, 2026, where details related to housing conditions, household assets, and amenities will be collected. The second phase, known as Population Enumeration (PE), is set to commence on February 1, 2027, when detailed socio-economic, cultural, and demographic data of individuals will be recorded.
A special reference date of October 1, 2026 has been set for snow-bound regions such as Ladakh, parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, where data collection will need to take place earlier due to weather constraints. For the rest of the country, March 1, 2027, at 00:00 hours, will serve as the official reference point for population data.
This Census marks a historic development as it will include caste enumeration for the first time since Independence and will also be India’s first digital Census. Data will be collected using secure mobile applications, and a self-enumeration feature will be made available, allowing individuals to submit their details online. The government has assured that robust data protection measures will be implemented during every stage collection, transmission, and storage.
Approximately 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors and around 1.3 lakh Census officials will be deployed nationwide to carry out this massive exercise. The use of Houselisting Blocks (HLBs) during the housing phase and Enumeration Blocks (EBs) during the population count ensures a structured and manageable workload for each functionary.
The last population Census was conducted in 2011, and the upcoming exercise, delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and administrative overhauls, will be India’s eighth Census since Independence.
The Centre’s directive makes it clear: no changes in administrative boundaries will be permitted between January 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027, the crucial period during which all Census operations will be executed. States have been urged to coordinate with their Census Directorates and update the Registrar General of any pending changes well before the December 2025 cut-off.
As the nation prepares for its largest data-gathering operation in over a decade, the emphasis is clear—stability in boundaries, digital execution, comprehensive inclusion, and meticulous planning will be at the core of Census 2027.