New Delhi, June 5 -- The Centre is set to launch the next nationwide Census, which will also include a caste enumeration for the first time, from March 1, 2027, senior government officials confirmed on June 4. As per the notification, the census exercise will be conducted in two phases, and the reference date for the count will be March 1, 2027.

However, in some selected regions, including Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the Census will commence earlier, starting in October 2026.

Once the 2027 Census is completed, a delimitation exercise - redrawing Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies - may also follow, based on the fresh population data. This marks the first time that the enumeration of castes will be part...