Census 2027 Explained: 40 Details Officials Will Ask During Household Data Collection

Pune, 7th September 2026: The Central Government has directed census officials to collect information on 40 parameters as part of the preparations for Census 2027.

The directions have been issued under sub-section (1) of Section 8 of the Census Act, 1948. Census officials will collect information from all persons residing within the boundaries of the local areas assigned to them by asking questions listed in the prescribed household schedule.

The information to be collected will include a person’s name, relationship with the head of the household, sex, date of birth and age, marital status, age at marriage, name of spouse, declared nationality, religion, Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe status and caste.

Details regarding the person’s father and mother, disability, mother tongue and other languages known, literacy and digital literacy, educational status, highest educational level and field or subject of study will also be recorded.

The census exercise will further collect information on a person’s work status during the previous year, economic activity classification, occupation, nature of industry, trade or service, and worker category.

For persons engaged in part-time or marginal work as well as those not engaged in work, officials will collect details regarding non-economic activity and whether they are seeking work or available for work.

Information related to employment will also cover commuting to the place of work. Details of place of birth, previous place of residence, reason for migration, duration of stay in the current village or town since the last migration and permanent residential address will also be recorded.

For currently married, widowed, divorced and separated women, the census will seek information on the number of surviving children and the number of children ever born alive. Currently married women will also be asked about the number of live births during the previous one year.

The census data collection will additionally include information on the place of COVID-19 vaccination, total number of bank accounts and, where available, mobile phone numbers. It will also seek details regarding Aadhaar numbers, voter ID numbers, passport numbers in the case of Indian passport holders, and the availability of a driving licence.

The directions have been issued by Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, as part of the Census 2027 exercise.