Society · 28 Sep 2026

Census 2027 caste enumeration

With reference to caste enumeration in Census 2027, consider the following statements:

  1. Census is a subject listed in the Union List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
  2. The Census is conducted under the Census Act, 1948, with the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  3. Respondents belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will record their caste in a free-text open column.
  4. The Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 also recorded caste in an open field, which produced over 46 lakh distinct caste names.
AOnly one
BOnly two
COnly three
DAll four
This question is based on: The Census Can Collect 46 Lakh Caste Names. Who Decides What They Mean?
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About this question

Why in news

Officials confirmed that the Union government has finalised the open-column method for recording caste in Census 2027 but has not yet decided how the free-text entries will be classified and tabulated.

Why for UPSC

UPSC pairs a current census development with its static base: the constitutional entry, the governing law, the nodal body and precedents like SECC 2011. The SC/ST exception is the trap.

Prelims summary

Census 2027 is the first census since Independence to enumerate all castes. SC/ST responses carry pre-assigned codes, while all others use a free-text column. Census is Entry 69 of the Union List and is conducted under the Census Act, 1948.

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