What are the new questions in 2027 Census, and how are enumerators being trained? Explained
As Uttar Pradesh and three other poll-bound States—Uttarakhand, Goa and Punjab—prepare to launch the second phase of Census 2027 on December 1, field trainers are briefing about 34 lakh enumerators on 40 questions that will require longer, more sensitive interviews and digital data entry, including caste, religion, Aadhaar access, and parents’ details
The upcoming second phase of the 2027 Census in India will introduce 40 questions, with enumerators expected to spend a minimum of 20-25 minutes per respondent. This phase of Population Enumeration will cover around 750-800 individuals within each enumeration block, marking a significant increase in the duration and detail of interactions compared to the initial Houselisting Operations (HLO) phase.
A training session for enumerators in Uttar Pradesh, held on October 29, shed light on the preparation process for this extended Census exercise. The field-trainer highlighted 13 new questions that will be posed for the first time, including queries about caste (excluding Scheduled Tribe/Scheduled Caste), religion, parents' birthplace and date of birth, digital literacy, and other personal identifiers such as digital numbers (Aadhaar, mobile, passport, driving licence) and existing identification cards (voter ID).
A key focus of the training was on Question number 37, which specifically requests the respondent's Aadhaar number alongside caste details. This emphasis underscores the importance of accurate data collection on these sensitive personal identifiers as part of the census. The detailed nature of the questions in the Population Enumeration phase reflects efforts to gather comprehensive demographic and socio-economic data, crucial for informed governance and policy-making in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
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