Caste, bank accounts, Covid jabs: Census Phase-II to have 40 questions

The second phase of Census 2027 in India will introduce 40 questions, including caste "as declared by the respondent," as a first-of-its-kind inclusion. Apart from caste, the questionnaire will gather information on bank accounts, Covid vaccination locations, and voter card numbers. However, it will not classify respondents into OBC categories, as caste information will be gathered via a digital mode that guarantees confidentiality, per Census Act.

New fields include the name of the spouse, parents' particulars (name, date of birth, and place of birth), nationality, permanent address, mobile phone number, Aadhaar number, passport number (required only from Indian passport holders), and the availability of a driving licence. The questionnaire will also capture the mother and father's particulars, which will determine citizenship and nationality.

The Phase 2 enumeration will begin in Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh on August 17 and conclude with March 1, 2027, as the reference date for population headcount.