India’s Registrar General and Census Commissioner notifies a 40-question questionnaire for the second phase of Census 2027. Multiple outlets report that the questionnaire expands substantially from earlier censuses and introduces new information categories related to caste, vaccination status, and identity and financial details.
According to reports, the updated form includes caste recording for all respondents for the first time in independent India, beyond earlier enumeration limited to certain categories. Outlets also say it covers COVID vaccination (including related details) and adds questions on digital and service access such as Aadhaar, voter ID, mobile numbers, passports, and bank accounts. NDTV and The Hindu both highlight identity and documentation fields alongside vaccination information.
The Hindu further describes the questionnaire as including 13 new data fields not present in the 2011 Census. It also notes that caste data is driving political debate, including discussion about how an “open-column” system for caste may work and what prior experience from the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census could inform. Swarajya and India Today focus on listing the topics included in the 40 questions rather than debating them.
