In short :
The Government of India has officially announced that the next Population Census will be conducted in 2026–2027, with caste enumeration included, marking the first comprehensive headcount since 2011. The decision has significant implications for delimitation, women’s reservation, and caste-based policy debates.
Key Details of the Census 2027 :
Two Phases:
- Phase I: House listing – March–August 2026
- Phase II: Population enumeration – February 2027
Reference Dates:
- October 1, 2026: For hilly and snowbound areas (Ladakh, J&K, Himachal, Uttarakhand)
- March 1, 2027: For rest of India
Caste Count:
- Will be conducted alongside the general Census.
- No umbrella OBC category—castes to be listed individually.
- May not directly influence reservation policy or lead to population-based quotas yet.
Delimitation Linkages :
- Article 82 mandates delimitation after each Census.
- Frozen in 1976 and 2001; will resume after the first Census post-2026, i.e., Census 2027.
- Delimitation could impact Lok Sabha and State Assembly seat distribution, especially controversial in southern states fearing reduced representation due to lower population growth.
Women’s Reservation & Census Dependency :
- 128th Constitutional Amendment (2023) introduced 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
- However, implementation is tied to delimitation based on Census 2027 data.
- Hence, reservation will not apply in 2024 or 2029 Lok Sabha elections unless Census processing is fast-tracked.
Political Context :
- Opposition leaders, especially Rahul Gandhi, have pushed for population-based representation under the slogan “Jitni abadi, utna haq”.
- BJP’s cautious approach to caste data is seen as avoiding pressure to revise the 50% reservation cap.
- Census 2027 timing could influence political negotiations around reservations and electoral representation.
Why the debate matters?
- Delimitation could reshape the balance of power between north and south India.
- Caste data might strengthen calls for proportional representation and quota restructuring.
- Women’s reservation is on hold until delimitation based on new Census figures.
LAST CASTE CENSUS — 1931
Last Official Caste Census: Conducted in 1931 by the British.
Key Finding: OBCs formed 52% of the population, later used by the Mandal Commission (1980) to justify reservation recommendations.
SECC 2011: Initiated by the UPA, but caste data was never released, citing data quality and classification concerns.
Challenges Faced in 1931 Census
- Political Resistance: Non-Cooperation Movement and Salt March created a hostile environment for data collection.
- Methodological Shifts: Switched from varna-based to occupation-based classification due to concerns over reinforcing social hierarchy.
- Social Aspirations: Castes manipulated names/status to climb the social ladder, making accurate classification difficult.
- J.H. Hutton’s Reform: Attempted to neutralize caste hierarchy bias by using occupation rather than varna as the classifier.
Modern-Day Challenges in Conducting a Caste Census
- Caste Fluidity: Communities evolve, merge, or rebrand—complicating enumeration.
- Non-Standardised Names: Same castes may be called different names across regions, creating confusion.
- Classification Criteria: No uniform benchmark for categorizing caste groups nationally.
Identity Politics: Risk of data being politicized, reinforcing social divisions or triggering demands for reclassification or higher quotas.
UPSC Relevance :
| GS1 – Indian Society:Role of caste in political representation and affirmative action, Impact of population distribution on regional disparities GS2 – Polity & Constitution:Article 82 (Delimitation), Women’s Reservation (128th Amendment Act), Census as a tool for democratic and social planning Possible Mains Question: “Census 2027 is not merely a demographic exercise but a political and constitutional pivot. Discuss its implications for delimitation, caste-based policies, and women’s reservation.” |