Census Rules amended: private school teachers can now be enumerators
Why in the news
On October 16, 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs notified the Census (Amendment) Rules, 2026, widening the pool of people who can be appointed as census enumerators. The change came after High Courts stayed orders requisitioning private school teachers for census work.
Key facts
- Rules amended: Census Rules, 1990, framed under Section 18(1) of the Census Act, 1948; the principal rules were earlier amended in 1994, 2009, 2018 and 2022.
- Who can now be enumerators: teachers of institutions run by the Centre, states, local authorities, or aided and unaided private bodies, societies and trusts; clerks and officials of governments, PSUs, statutory bodies, banks and companies; and any other person a State/UT considers suitable.
- Signed by: Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan.
- Budget: Rs 11,718 crore approved by the Union Cabinet.
Census 2027 schedule
| Region | Population enumeration |
|---|---|
| Ladakh and snow-bound areas of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand | September 1-30, 2026 (completed) |
| Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, non-snow-bound Uttarakhand | December 1, 2026 – January 4, 2027 |
| Rest of the country | Expected from February 2027 |
About Census 2027
It is the eighth census since Independence, originally due in 2021 but postponed because of Covid. It runs in two phases: house-listing and housing census, followed by population enumeration. It will gather demographic, socio-cultural and economic details, along with migration and fertility data for each household.
Exam angle
- Census Act, 1948 and Census Rules, 1990 are the legal base.
- Note the RGI’s name and the Rs 11,718 crore budget.
- Remember the two phases and the staggered enumeration dates.