# Census 2027 to Record Caste for First Time Since Independence

2026-08-14T21:17:28+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

Census 2027 will record the caste of every respondent, marking the first such exercise since Independence, The Hindu reports. Its questionnaire expands to 40 questions from 29 in Census 2011 and will cover caste, digital literacy, Aadhaar, mobile numbers, bank accounts, voter IDs and passports. The open-column caste format has triggered a political dispute. Times Now News reports that parties are divided over whether the exercise will improve social justice, representation and welfare policy, or become an instrument for electoral vote-bank politics. The Hindu also examines lessons from the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census and the possible effect on policymaking, welfare schemes and representation.

## Coverage

- timesnownews.com <https://www.timesnownews.com/videos/times-now/india-upfront/debate-on-the-significance-of-caste-census-in-india-video-155630969>
- thehindu.com <https://www.thehindu.com/videos/caste-covid-vaccine-bank-accounts-voteraadhaar-the-big-changes-in-census-2027/article71348679.ece>

Tags: caste census, Census of India, Government of India, political debate, reservation, social justice
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