Census 2027: 40 Questions Notified Including Caste, COVID Vaccination & ID Proofs Under Census Act 1948

RGI Adopts Open-Ended Caste Census Format; 46.7 Lakh Names Expected as in 2011

The Registrar General of India has decided to use an open-ended question for the caste census, avoiding a drop-down menu. This mirrors the 2011 SECC format that produced 46.7 lakh unverified caste names, raising concerns about data quality. The decision comes amid political pressure and RSS opposition to using state lists.

Census 2027: 40 Questions Cleared for Enumeration, Including Caste and Aadhaar Details

The Centre has formally cleared 40 specified items for the Census 2027 Household Schedule, including politically sensitive questions on caste and Aadhaar details. This is not just a data exercise — it will shape demographic planning, welfare targeting, and social policy, making it a high-yield current affairs topic for exams.

Census 2027 Questionnaire: 14 New Questions, 8 Link to NPR, Trigger CAA-NRC Controversy

The Census 2027 questionnaire has reignited the CAA-NRC controversy by including 8 questions from the NPR schedule, raising concerns over privacy and citizenship verification. This is crucial for exams as it tests understanding of the NPR, NRC, CAA linkage, and constitutional provisions on citizenship.

Census 2027 Disability Question: Only 9 of 21 RPwD Act Conditions Included, Critics Warn of Undercount

The Census 2027 disability question includes only 9 out of 21 conditions recognized under the RPwD Act 2016, excluding autism, specific learning disabilities, and others. Experts warn this will lead to a severe undercount, misallocation of funds, and invisibility of disabled persons, especially in remote areas where diagnosis infrastructure is lacking.

Task Force Recommends Inflation-Adjusted Relief Hike, Counselling Under SC/ST Act

A government task force has recommended major changes to the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, including inflation-indexed relief hikes, mandatory counselling, and 24-hour FIR reporting. Separately, the NCST has proposed legal safeguards to protect tribal livelihoods during land disputes and curb counter FIRs. These proposals are critical for aspirants as they touch upon the SC/ST Act, a high-yield topic for Prelims and Mains in Polity and Social Justice.

Centre Constitutes Pankaj Kumar Singh-led Committee for Gorkha Permanent Political Solution

After decades of demand for Gorkhaland statehood, the Union Home Ministry has set up a committee chaired by former Deputy NSA Pankaj Kumar Singh to finalise a 'permanent political solution' for the Darjeeling hills. The decision, announced at a meeting on August 22, 2026, comes when both Centre and West Bengal are under BJP rule, making it a politically opportune moment. The solution may involve creation of a separate state or Union Territory, with significant implications for West Bengal's integrity and India's strategic interests in the Siliguri Corridor.

Census 2027 Population Enumeration Begins: 13 New Questions on Father, Mother, Birthplace Added

The Census 2027 population enumeration phase begins next month with 13 new or modified questions, including details of father, mother, and birthplace. This reflects the state's evolving priorities from colonial governance to welfare delivery, urbanisation, and social identity recognition.

Census 2027: First Digital Census with Caste Enumeration for All Communities; 40 Questions in PE Phase

The 2027 Census is the first digital census and the first in independent India to enumerate caste for all communities, not just SC/ST. The Population Enumeration phase (Feb 2027) will ask 40 questions including caste, religion, Aadhaar, and bank accounts. This data will drive reservation policies and socio-economic planning for decades.