Population Foundation of India welcomes the announcement of India’s upcoming Census in 2027—set to be the first fully digital enumeration exercise—and calls for strong safeguards to ensure that the count is inclusive, accurate, and equity-focused.
“Sixteen years since the last exercise, this Census is not just about counting people—it’s about correcting course. Development planning has been constrained for over a decade by outdated data. We have a critical opportunity now to ensure that the Census reflects the lived realities of all Indians, especially marginalised communities,” said Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director, Population Foundation of India.
Since 2011, India has undergone rapid changes in population, migration, and urbanisation. Yet public policy—from food distribution to health infrastructure—has relied on outdated baselines. “This Census is essential for aligning public investment with real needs, especially in underserved districts and growing urban peripheries,” said Poonam Muttreja.
The move to a digital Census is a major innovation, but also raises risks of exclusion for rural and marginalised households. Many face barriers in digital access, literacy, and language. Population Foundation cautions that if digital self-enumeration becomes the norm without adequate safeguards, it could reinforce undercounting of precisely those left behind.
“Marginalised groups must not become data shadows in a digital-first approach. The government must retain in-person enumeration where needed and invest in socially diverse, trained enumerator teams,” Poonam Muttreja said.
Population Foundation of India strongly supports the inclusion of caste-disaggregated data in the Census. Caste shapes access to health, education, and employment, but remains invisible in national datasets. We cannot build inclusive policies if we do not measure exclusion.
Most importantly, we call for gender-sensitive design and implementation of Census tools. Historically, women’s data has been underreported—especially in self-enumeration formats led by male household members.
We recommend that the census exercise includes: individual-level enumeration for all adults wherever possible; gender-balanced data collection teams; and recognition of unpaid care work in data categories.
“Gender data gaps lead to policy blind spots. Women and girls must not remain invisible in the datasets that drive national planning,” Poonam Muttreja added.
Population Foundation of India urges policymakers to view Census 2027 not merely as a logistical task, but as a democratic commitment—to see and serve every Indian. Equity begins with visibility
