Census-2027 first phase starts: 16th census, first digital one
Why in the news
India opened the first phase of its next national population count in April 2026. Officials described it as the largest exercise of its kind anywhere and the first to be carried out digitally.
Key facts
- Edition: Census-2027, the 16th census overall.
- Place in history: the 8th census after Independence.
- Mode: digital, a first for India, and called the world’s biggest census exercise.
- Structure: two stages, House Listing (HLO) followed by Population Enumeration (PE).
- Date linked to the schedule: March 1, 2027.
Exam angle
- Numbering question: 16th in the series, 8th since 1947.
- Abbreviations to remember: HLO and PE.
- Distinctive feature: first census run through digital means.
- Year tag: the exercise carries the label 2027.