Census
Constitutional and Legal Framework
The census is mandated under Entry 69 of the Union List (Seventh Schedule), making it an exclusive Central subject. It is conducted under the Census Act, 1948. The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, administers the census. Article 81 of the Constitution links Lok Sabha seat allocation to population, making the census data directly relevant to parliamentary representation.
- Census Act, 1948 — the primary legislation; the Registrar General notifies census schedules and appoints enumerators
- Decennial census: mandated every 10 years; last completed census was 2011 (Census 2021 was repeatedly postponed, making 2027 the first in 16+ years)
- Houselisting phase collects data on housing conditions, amenities, and assets; Population Enumeration collects demographic data
- Snow-bound areas (parts of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh): Population Enumeration in September 2026 (earlier window)
● Tracked since March 11, 2026 · last seen August 30, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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