Census 2027 to include Transgender heads of household, fully digital exercise

The upcoming Census of India, scheduled for 2027, will for the first time record the sex of the head of household in three categories Male, Female, and Transgender, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, said the Census will be conducted in two phases. The first phase, covering Houselisting and Housing Census, has had its questions notified. “Information on housing conditions, household particulars including name and sex of the head of the household, amenities available, and assets possessed by households will be collected in this phase,” Rai stated.

Earlier Censuses recognized only two categories male and female when recording the sex of the head of household. The inclusion of the transgender category in 2027 aligns with India’s growing recognition of gender diversity.

The second phase, Population Enumeration, will collect individual-level data and will be notified later. Enumerators will conduct house-to-house visits across all areas to avoid exclusions. Citizens can also submit self-enumeration, which will be verified by enumerators. The self-enumeration portal will have FAQs, tooltips, and validation checks to ensure accuracy.

The Minister said all suitable measures have been taken for data security at mobile, transmission, and server levels. Field staff, including enumerators and supervisors, will be trained, and data will be monitored and validated for consistency.

The Union Cabinet has approved ₹11,718 crore for Census 2027 , which will include caste enumeration for the first time. This 16th Census since Independence will be fully digital . Originally scheduled for 2021, it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.