Census in India
Constitutional Basis, Legal Framework, and History
The Census of India is a comprehensive demographic survey conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It derives its authority from the Census Act, 1948, which makes it mandatory for all persons to respond truthfully to census questions. The Constitution does not directly mandate the census but makes it integral to delimitation of constituencies (Article 82) and allocation of seats in Parliament and state legislatures.
- Legal basis: Census Act, 1948
- Administrative authority: Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (under MHA)
- India has conducted a census every 10 years since 1872 (first synchronous census); from 1881 onwards it has been decennial
- Last census: 2011 (the 2021 census was postponed due to COVID-19 and has not yet been conducted as of 2026)
- Census 2011 found India's population at 1.21 billion; sex ratio 940 females per 1,000 males; literacy rate 74%
- The 2027 census will be conducted digitally for the first time — enumerators will use mobile apps instead of paper schedules
- Census has two phases: (1) House Listing and Housing Census, and (2) Population Enumeration
- A self-enumeration option will be available for literate households
● Tracked since March 03, 2026 · last seen May 17, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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