National Census 2027

What it is, and why being counted matters for everyone.

What is the National Census?

The Census of India is the official, once-in-a-decade count of every person living in the country. It records who we are and where we live, building the single most complete picture of the nation's people.

Census 2027 is the first digital census, for the first time, households can record their own details through Digital Self-Enumeration (DSE), followed by house-to-house enumeration by officials.

National Census 2027

Why the Census Matters

The census is not just a headcount, its numbers quietly shape decisions that affect everyone, for the next ten years.

It Plans the Country

Schools, hospitals, roads, water and electricity are planned around census numbers. An accurate count means services are built where people actually live.

It Allocates Resources

Government budgets and welfare schemes are distributed using census data. Who gets counted decides where the money goes.

It Shapes Representation

The number of seats and the boundaries of constituencies are based on population. The census decides how communities are represented.

It Informs Policy

From health to education to housing, policy is built on census data. Decisions are only as good as the numbers behind them.

Everyone Counts

Each person recorded makes the data truer. Every household missed leaves the picture, and the community, slightly smaller.

Once in Ten Years

The census happens only once a decade. The count taken in 2027 will shape decisions until the late 2030s.

A Decade Rests on These Few Weeks

The census is taken over a few weeks, but the numbers guide the country for ten years. That's why making sure your household, and every household, is counted correctly matters so much.

Let Every Jain Count is an awareness initiative built on this simple truth: when the count is accurate, every community is seen, planned for and represented fairly. That is why we ask every Jain to be counted correctly in Census 2027.

India Census 2027

Census Schedule 2027

State-wise timeline for India's Census 2027

State / UT Status Self-Enumeration House-to-House DSE Start
तेलंगाना
Telangana
 House-to-House 26 अप्रैल से 10 मई 11 मई से 9 जून 26 अप्रैल
हिमाचल प्रदेश
Himachal Pradesh
 House-to-House 29 अप्रैल से 11 मई 12 मई से 11 जून 29 अप्रैल
पंजाब
Punjab
 House-to-House 30 अप्रैल से 14 मई 15 मई से 13 जून 30 अप्रैल
दिल्ली MCD
Delhi MCD
 House-to-House 1 मई से 15 मई 16 मई से 14 जून 1 मई
झारखंड
Jharkhand
 House-to-House 1 मई से 15 मई 16 मई से 14 जून 1 मई
महाराष्ट्र
Maharashtra
 House-to-House 1 मई से 15 मई 16 मई से 14 जून 1 मई
मेघालय
Meghalaya
 House-to-House 1 मई से 15 मई 16 मई से 14 जून 1 मई
राजस्थान
Rajasthan
 House-to-House 1 मई से 15 मई 16 मई से 14 जून 1 मई
उत्तर प्रदेश
Uttar Pradesh
 House-to-House 7 मई से 21 मई 22 मई से 20 जून 7 मई
गुजरात
Gujarat
 House-to-House 17 मई से 31 मई 1 जून से 30 जून 17 मई
जम्मू और कश्मीर
Jammu & Kashmir
 House-to-House 17 मई से 31 मई 1 जून से 30 जून 17 मई
लद्दाख
Ladakh
 House-to-House 17 मई से 31 मई 1 जून से 30 जून 17 मई
पुदुचेरी
Puducherry
 House-to-House 17 मई से 31 मई 1 जून से 30 जून 17 मई
केरल
Kerala
 Upcoming 16 जून से 30 जून 1 जुलाई से 30 जुलाई 16 जून
नागालैंड
Nagaland
 Upcoming 16 जून से 30 जून 1 जुलाई से 30 जुलाई 16 जून
तमिलनाडु
Tamil Nadu
 Upcoming 17 जुलाई से 31 जुलाई 1 अगस्त से 30 अगस्त 17 जुलाई
त्रिपुरा
Tripura
 Upcoming 17 जुलाई से 31 जुलाई 1 अगस्त से 30 अगस्त 17 जुलाई
असम
Assam
 Upcoming 2 अगस्त से 16 अगस्त 17 अगस्त से 15 सितम्बर 2 अगस्त
पश्चिम बंगाल
West Bengal
 Date not announced — — -
अंडमान और निकोबार द्वीप समूह
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
 Completed 1 अप्रैल से 15 अप्रैल 16 अप्रैल से 15 मई 1 अप्रैल
दिल्ली NDMC और दिल्ली छावनी
Delhi NDMC & Delhi Cantt
 Completed 1 अप्रैल से 15 अप्रैल 16 अप्रैल से 15 मई 1 अप्रैल
गोवा
Goa
 Completed 1 अप्रैल से 15 अप्रैल 16 अप्रैल से 15 मई 1 अप्रैल
कर्नाटक
Karnataka
 Completed 1 अप्रैल से 15 अप्रैल 16 अप्रैल से 15 मई 1 अप्रैल
लक्षद्वीप
Lakshadweep
 Completed 1 अप्रैल से 15 अप्रैल 16 अप्रैल से 15 मई 1 अप्रैल
मणिपुर
Manipur
 Completed 1 अप्रैल से 15 अप्रैल 16 अप्रैल से 15 मई 1 अप्रैल
मिज़ोरम
Mizoram
 Completed 1 अप्रैल से 15 अप्रैल 16 अप्रैल से 15 मई 1 अप्रैल
ओडिशा
Odisha
 Completed 1 अप्रैल से 15 अप्रैल 16 अप्रैल से 15 मई 1 अप्रैल
सिक्किम
Sikkim
 Completed 1 अप्रैल से 15 अप्रैल 16 अप्रैल से 15 मई 1 अप्रैल
दादरा और नगर हवेली और दमन और दीव
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
 Completed 5 अप्रैल से 19 अप्रैल 20 अप्रैल से 19 मई 5 अप्रैल
उत्तराखंड
Uttarakhand
 Completed 10 अप्रैल से 24 अप्रैल 25 अप्रैल से 24 मई 10 अप्रैल
आंध्र प्रदेश
Andhra Pradesh
 Completed 16 अप्रैल से 30 अप्रैल 1 मई से 30 मई 16 अप्रैल
अरुणाचल प्रदेश
Arunachal Pradesh
 Completed 16 अप्रैल से 30 अप्रैल 1 मई से 30 मई 16 अप्रैल
चंडीगढ़
Chandigarh
 Completed 16 अप्रैल से 30 अप्रैल 1 मई से 30 मई 16 अप्रैल
छत्तीसगढ़
Chhattisgarh
 Completed 16 अप्रैल से 30 अप्रैल 1 मई से 30 मई 16 अप्रैल
हरियाणा
Haryana
 Completed 16 अप्रैल से 30 अप्रैल 1 मई से 30 मई 16 अप्रैल
मध्य प्रदेश
Madhya Pradesh
 Completed 16 अप्रैल से 30 अप्रैल 1 मई से 30 मई 16 अप्रैल
बिहार
Bihar
 Completed 17 अप्रैल से 1 मई 2 मई से 31 मई 17 अप्रैल
See the Census Schedule

Be counted in Census 2027

See the Census Schedule Why Jains Must Be Counted Become a Volunteer
Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Census 2027, self-enumeration, and how every Jain is counted correctly.

What is Census 2027?

Census 2027 is India's next national census, conducted in two phases: the House Listing and Housing Census, followed by Population Enumeration. It is the once-in-a-decade count that decides how every community, including Jains, is represented in official data.

What are the two phases of Census 2027?

Phase 1 is the House Listing and Housing Census (April to September 2026), covering house condition, amenities and assets. Phase 2 is the Population Enumeration (February 2027), which records demographic and individual details, including religion.

When will Census 2027 happen?

Phase 1 (House Listing) runs from 1 April 2026 through September 2026 across different states. Phase 2 (Population Enumeration) is scheduled for February 2027. The reference date is 1 March 2027 (1 October 2026 for snow-bound areas).

What happens in Phase 1?

Phase 1 has 33 questions notified by the Official Gazette, covering house structure, usage, the number of persons normally residing in the household, household head, amenities, assets and mobile number. There is no religion question in Phase 1; that comes in Phase 2.

What information is collected in Phase 2?

Phase 2 (Population Enumeration) collects demographic details, socio-economic status, education, migration and fertility data for each individual. This is the phase where religion is recorded. Exact dates and questions will be notified in due course.

Why does Census 2027 matter so much?

Three reasons. One, the census happens once in 10 years; the next opportunity is around 2037. Two, Phase 2 records religion, and that single entry shapes how the community is seen in policy and planning for a decade. Three, for the first time self-enumeration is available, so every household can take part directly.

What is self-enumeration (SE)?

Self-enumeration lets you fill your own household information on the official government portal using your mobile number and OTP. After submitting, you receive a SEID (Self-Enumeration ID). An enumerator will still visit to authenticate the data; self-enumeration is preparation, not completion.

How do I do self-enumeration for Census 2027?

Visit the official SE portal, log in with your mobile number, identify your location on the map, fill your household details and submit. You then receive a Self-Enumeration ID (SEID). Share that SEID with the enumerator during their field visit so your data is confirmed and included in the Census.

What is SEID?

When you fill your household information on the Census App or SE portal, you receive a Self-Enumeration ID (SEID). Keep it safe. When the census officer visits your home, give them this SEID so they can authenticate your filled details and register you in Phase 1.

Why does the officer still visit after self-enumeration?

Because self-enumeration is preparation; final validation happens through enumerator authentication. Receiving a SEID does not mean the process is complete. The enumerator visit is mandatory whether or not self-enumeration was done.

Is Census 2027 data secure?

Yes. Census data is collected and protected under the Census Act, 1948. Necessary data-security measures have been put in place for both the Mobile App and the Self-Enumeration portal.

Does the census form have “Jain” as an option?

Yes. Jain is listed as a distinct religion category in the census household schedule and has been reported separately in past census religion releases. If you are Jain, the correct entry is simply: Religion, Jain.

What is the most important thing to do during the census?

If you are Jain, clearly answer “Religion: Jain” for every member of your household when asked in Phase 2. That single, clear answer is what this campaign is about.

If I am Jain, can I just write Hindu because it is easier?

No. The census has Jain as its own official option. Writing Hindu when you are Jain quietly removes your family from the Jain count. Our temples, festivals and traditions are Jain, and the form respects that with its own category. You can hold that with pride without disagreeing with anyone.

Do I need to change my surname or gotra?

Absolutely not. There is no need to change your surname, gotra or family identity. The census records religion based on what the household states, not on surname. This is a common myth.

Many Jains have non-Jain surnames. Does that confuse the count?

Many Jain families use surnames common across communities, as they have for generations. The census records religion based on what the household states, not on the surname. The single most important step is to clearly answer “Religion: Jain” when asked.

Should Digambar and Shwetambar do anything different?

No. Across all paths within the Jain tradition, Digambar, Shwetambar, Murtipujak, Sthanakvasi, Terapanth and others, the census entry is the same: Religion, Jain. The campaign treats every Jain sampradaya as equal.

Will writing Jain cause any harm or loss of benefits?

No. The census is statistical counting, not a benefit-allocation mechanism. Existing legal status, schemes and identity documents are not changed by what you write. Jains have been counted as a separate religion category for decades.

Am I legally required to answer census questions?

Under the Census Act, a census officer may ask questions as directed by government instructions, and you are legally bound to answer to the best of your knowledge and belief.

Is census data confidential?

Yes. The Census Act states that census records and schedules are not open to inspection and are not admissible as evidence in civil proceedings, except in limited cases specified by law.

Why does correct counting matter for a small community?

Smaller communities are the ones most affected when data is unclear. Visibility in the official count shapes how community institutions, heritage sites and traditions are recognised in policy and planning for years. Being a smaller share of the population is exactly why correct counting matters more, not less.

Our survey is already done, the BLO came. Was that the census?

Not every survey is the census. A BLO visit, a state survey or a caste survey are different processes. Census counting is valid only when, during the official census period, an official census representative completes the household process and the required verification happens. The enumerator visit is mandatory whether or not self-enumeration was done.

What can one person do for this campaign?

Ensure your own household is counted correctly, prepare your immediate family, and spread awareness in your circle. You do not need to do anything big; making sure correct counting happens, household by household, is what builds the chain.

What is the 4 families call?

Every Jain has four grandparental natal families: paternal-paternal, paternal-maternal, maternal-paternal and maternal-maternal. The 4 families call is a simple mission, reach out to all four and make sure every household is ready for Census 2027. It is finite, doable, and one of the highest-impact actions a single person can take.

I only have one hour a week. What can I do?

One hour is plenty. You can forward campaign messages to your four family branches, share the helpline 92898-11008 in your WhatsApp groups, or call one mandir trustee to suggest a small self-enumeration camp. Consistent small actions compound.

What is a mandir self-enumeration camp?

A mandir SE camp is a one-hour gathering at your local mandir, upashray or society where 5 to 10 families self-enumerate together with help. One small camp typically results in 10 to 50 households correctly counted in a single sitting.

How can sant or muni shri help?

Sant and muni shri play one of the most important roles, through a line or two in pravachan that reaches thousands of devotees, awareness compounds enormously. A Sant Kit with verified, sect-blind talking points is available so every saint across our sampradayas can speak about Census 2027 with clarity. Reach out via 92898-11008.

How can women in the community help?

Women are often the strongest connectors across families and across the four branches. A mother, sister or daughter making one round of calls to the four family branches typically reaches more households than any other action. Mahila mandals at mandirs are among the most effective places to host SE awareness camps.

How do I become a volunteer (Jain Janganna Saathi)?

Register on the official LEJC site with your name, phone number and area. A Saathi spreads verified awareness, helps families prepare, assists with self-enumeration and reminds people to answer “Religion: Jain” clearly. You do not need to be an expert to help.

Why should I trust LEJC?

LEJC is an independent, non-political civic awareness initiative. It does not collect personal data, does not submit anyone's census on their behalf, and does not ask for money. The actual census happens through the official government portal and enumerators; LEJC's only role is awareness.

Is this a scam or fundraising?

No. The campaign emphasises time and awareness, not money. If anyone uses LEJC's name to ask for donations or payments, please verify through the official helpline 92898-11008 or the official website before responding.

What is the campaign helpline number?

The campaign helpline is 92898-11008. You can give a missed call from any phone at no charge, and the system connects you back on WhatsApp with the right information for your area. Share this number widely in your family and mandir groups.