Census 2027: Centre clears 40 questions, caste and Aadhaar details on list

The Centre has authorized Census officers to gather information on 40 specific topics during the 2027 population enumeration. The list of questions encompasses fundamental demographic details like name, relationship to the head of the household, sex, date of birth, age, marital status, nationality, religion, caste, mother tongue, and languages spoken.

It also encompasses questions related to literacy, digital literacy, educational attendance, highest educational attainment, work status, occupation, industry, worker class, and migration history. Significant additions include inquiries about Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, caste, father and mother details, disability, place of birth, previous residence, reasons for migration, and duration of stay post-migration.

According to Registrar General and Census Commissioner Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, these questions are being asked within the local area for which officers have been appointed, as per powers granted under sub-section (1) of section 8 of the Census Act, 1948. The Household Schedule will also collect data on women, such as the number of children currently present, total number of alive births, and births alive in the last year.

Additionally, it seeks details regarding access to official documents and services like bank accounts, mobile numbers, Aadhaar numbers, Voter ID numbers, passport numbers, and driving licenses. The questionnaire also includes a question on the date of Covid-19 vaccination.