States Informed: Census 2027 Pre-Test Scheduled for Oct-Nov

Quick Summary

• The pre-test for the Population Census, 2027 will be held in October and November 2025.
• The exercise aims to evaluate the proposed questions, data collection methods, training processes, logistics, printing workflows, and data quality assessments.
• A mobile app will be introduced for data collection alongside self-enumeration tools, digital mapping systems, and a web portal for real-time monitoring.
• This marks India’s first digital Census and the first to enumerate caste since Independence.
• Unlike previous pre-tests that included both phases of Census queries (Houselisting & Housing schedule and Population Enumeration), this test will only cover Phase 1 questions.
• No decision has been made by the Union Government regarding updating the National Population Register (NPR) as part of this Census round; NPR was last updated in 2015-16 with administrative boundaries frozen by December 31 for operations.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The upcoming population Census marks a significant step in modernizing india’s demographic data collection process through digitization and advanced methodologies such as mobile apps and digital maps. Its focus on Phase 1 testing highlights efforts toward ensuring efficacy before full implementation between April 2026 to February 2027. However, it also reflects cautious planning-perhaps stemming from delays since its originally scheduled conduct in 2021 due to COVID-19-and broader considerations like caste enumeration that may require sensitive handling given India’s socio-political landscape.

The absence of an update on the NPR suggests prioritization of other aspects of census readiness rather than diverting resources towards contentious databases at this stage. This approach could streamline operations while reducing potential opposition or controversy during execution but leaves uncertainties about how future citizenship-related policies might integrate NPR developments post-Census completion.

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