--- title: "India’s 2027 census to collect caste, COVID-19 vaccination and digital IDs" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/indias-2027-census-to-collect-caste-covid-19-vaccination-and-digital-ids" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/indias-2027-census-to-collect-caste-covid-19-vaccination-and-digital-ids" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/indias-2027-census-to-collect-caste-covid-19-vaccination-and-digital-ids.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/indias-2027-census-to-collect-caste-covid-19-vaccination-and-digital-ids" category: "Politics" area: "India" published: "2026-08-14T08:05:38.601Z" source_reported: "2026-08-14T07:20:20.000Z" updated: "2026-08-14T08:05:38.601Z" trust_score: 86 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-14T09:00:34.102784+00:00" --- # India’s 2027 census to collect caste, COVID-19 vaccination and digital IDs *Ministry of Home Affairs notifies 40 questions for population enumeration, including first caste count since 1931* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 86 of 100, higher is better. Trust high (86) because multiple outlets name Minister Nityanand Rai and cite the Gazette notification. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic score 95; article explains significance, quotes officials, provides dates and figures, and outlines next steps. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype low (15); language is factual with no sensational adjectives or clickbait framing. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The Ministry of Home Affairs notified 40 questions for Census 2027, including caste, COVID-19 vaccination, and digital identifiers like Aadhaar and mobile numbers. - The ₹11,718 crore census will be India’s first fully digital census and the first to collect caste data since 1931. - Population enumeration in Ladakh and snow-bound areas begins 1 September 2026; the rest of India follows in February 2027. - ₹4,102 crore has been released so far for training, manpower, and technical infrastructure. The Ministry of Home Affairs notified 40 questions for Census 2027 on 3 August 2026. The list includes name, sex, date of birth, age, nationality, religion, mother tongue, caste, COVID-19 vaccination status, and digital identifiers such as Aadhaar, mobile number, and voter ID. This will be the first time caste details are collected in a decennial census since 1931. Minister of State Nityanand Rai told the Rajya Sabha on 12 August 2026 that ₹4,102 crore has been released to states and union territories for training, manpower, and technical infrastructure. The first phase, Houselisting and Housing Census, has been completed in 31 states and union territories. The remaining states are scheduled to finish by September 2026. Population enumeration will begin in Ladakh and snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand on 1 September 2026, with a revisional round from 1 to 5 October 2026. The rest of India will conduct population enumeration in February 2027. The census will be fully digital, with an option for self-enumeration. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention the total cost of the census, ₹11,718.24 crore, or the ₹4,102 crore released so far for training and infrastructure. The centre-rated report and all three left-rated reports included these figures. The full list of 40 questions was published only by The Hindu. None of the digests, including those from right-rated outlets, provided the complete list. ## Who covered it Shares of the 13 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 23% (3) - Centre: 8% (1) - Right: 69% (9) 4 of 17 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-14T09:00:34.102784+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 7 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-14T09:45:24.942Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The three left-rated reports led on the inclusion of caste and COVID-19 vaccination details in the census questionnaire. The Hindu published the full list of 40 questions, highlighting that respondents will be asked to provide Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and caste details, as well as COVID-19 vaccination status. The Indian Express and The Telegraph also noted the first caste enumeration since 1931. - The Hindu’s report included direct quotes from the notification, listing questions on disability, migration, and digital literacy. The Indian Express added that the census would collect details of father and mother, place of birth, and reason for migration. The Telegraph described the census as the first to collect caste details as part of the decennial exercise. ### Centre - Live Mint’s report led on the ₹4,102 crore released for the census and the timeline for population enumeration in Ladakh and snow-bound areas. It quoted Minister of State Nityanand Rai’s statement that the first phase had been completed in 31 states and union territories, with the remaining states to finish by September 2026. - The report also highlighted that Ladakh would lead the caste enumeration exercise, with the second phase beginning on 1 September 2026. It included the total cost of the census, ₹11,718.24 crore, and noted that approximately 1.02 crore man-days of employment would be generated. ### Right - The seven right-rated digests led on the inclusion of caste and COVID-19 vaccination details in the census questionnaire. India TV News, rediff.com, India Today, Deccan Chronicle, The Hindu Business Line, and Times of India all noted that the census would collect caste data for the first time since 1931. Several digests mentioned that the census would be fully digital. - India Today and rediff.com highlighted that the census would include Aadhaar details. Deccan Chronicle and The Hindu Business Line quoted the Registrar General of India’s notification, stating that respondents would be asked whether they belong to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe and their caste. None of the right-rated digests mentioned the total cost of the census or the ₹4,102 crore released so far. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 8 - high: 5 - unknown: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [India TV News](https://indiatvnews.com/news/india/census-2027-centre-notifies-40-questions-caste-covid-vaccination-on-list-2026-08-14-1051349) — Census 2027: Centre notifies 40 questions; caste, covid vaccination on list - [rediff.com](https://rediff.com/news/report/caste-covid-jab-what-citizens-have-to-answer-in-census-2027/20260814.htm) — Caste, Covid jab: What citizens have to answer in Census 2027 - [TV9 Marathi](https://tv9marathi.com/national/census-2027-indias-40-questions-on-caste-covid-vaccine-and-digital-data-1733702.html) — Are You Also Going to Kanchi? Have You Taken the Covid Vaccine? And... 40 Questions From the Center for the Census - [Latestly](https://latestly.com/agency-news/india-news-census-2027-ministry-of-home-affairs-notifies-40-questions-to-be-asked-through-household-schedule-7559544.html) — Census 2027: Ministry of Home Affairs Notifies 40 Questions to Be Asked Through Household Schedule - [India TV Hindi Hindi](https://indiatv.in/india/national/mha-notified-a-set-of-40-questions-for-census-2027-see-full-list-2026-08-14-1237264) — You Will Be Asked 40 Questions in the Census, See the Full List - India TV Hindi - [The News Mill](https://thenewsmill.com/2026/08/ministry-of-home-affairs-notifies-40-questions-for-census-of-india-2027) — Census of India 2027: 40 questions notified by Ministry of Home Affairs - [NDTV](https://ndtv.com/india-news/caste-covid-vaccine-location-centre-notifies-40-questions-for-census-2027-11908628) — Caste, Covid Vaccine Location: Centre Notifies 40 Questions For Census 2027 - [India Today](https://indiatoday.in/india/story/census-2027-caste-data-aadhaar-covid-19-jab-details-questionnaire-2971014-2026-08-14) — Caste, Covid vaccination centre: What citizens have to answer in Census 2027 - [Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/india/census-2027-centre-questions-caste-aadhaar-list-10832634) — Census 2027: Centre clears 40 questions, caste and Aadhaar details on list - [dtnext.in](https://dtnext.in/news/national/centre-notifies-40-questions-for-census-2027-caste-sc-st-status-included) — Centre notifies 40 questions for Census 2027; caste, SC, ST status included - [Deccan Chronicle](https://deccanchronicle.com/nation/centre-notifies-40-questions-for-census-2027-caste-sc-st-status-included-1979077) — Centre Notifies 40 Questions for Census 2027; Caste, SC, ST Status Included - [The Telegraph](https://telegraphindia.com/india/census-2027-questionnaire-includes-caste-sc-st-status-centre-notifies-40-questions/cid/2174932) — Centre notifies 40 questions for Census 2027, caste and Covid vaccination among them - [Unknown](https://aajtak.in/india/news/story/census-2027-questionnaire-centre-notification-caste-sc-st-status-included-ntc-mnrd-dskc-2621740-2026-08-14) — Caste Will Have to Be Disclosed, Details of Covid Vaccination Will Also Have to Be given... The Centre Has Notified 40 Questions for the Census. - [The Hindu Business Line](https://thehindubusinessline.com/news/centre-notifies-40-questions-for-census-2027-caste-sc-st-status-included/article71344205.ece) — Centre notifies 40 questions for Census 2027; caste, SC, ST status included - [The Hindu](https://thehindu.com/news/national/census-2027-to-have-40-questions-including-details-of-caste-covid-vaccination-id-proofs/article71344141.ece) — Census 2027 to have 40 questions, including details of caste, COVID vaccination, ID proofs - [Times of India](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/census-2027-centre-notifies-40-questions-for-census-population-enumeration-phase/articleshow/133229364.cms) — Census 2027: Centre notifies 40 questions for Census population enumeration phase - [Live Mint](https://livemint.com/news/india/census-2027-4-102-crore-released-ladakh-snow-bound-areas-to-lead-caste-enumeration-govt-reveals-cost-timeline-11786679808413.html) — Census 2027: ₹4,102 crore released; Ladakh, snow-bound areas to lead caste enumeration — Govt reveals cost, timeline ## Questions **What questions will be asked in India’s 2027 census?** The census will ask 40 questions, including name, sex, date of birth, age, nationality, religion, mother tongue, caste, COVID-19 vaccination status, and digital identifiers like Aadhaar and mobile number. This is the first time caste details will be collected since 1931. **When will the 2027 census begin?** Population enumeration in Ladakh and snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand begins on 1 September 2026. The rest of India will conduct population enumeration in February 2027. The first phase, Houselisting and Housing Census, has already been completed in 31 states. **How much will the 2027 census cost?** The Union Cabinet approved ₹11,718.24 crore for the census. So far, ₹4,102 crore has been released to states and union territories for training, manpower, and technical infrastructure. The census will generate approximately 1.02 crore man-days of employment. **Which outlets reported the total cost of the census?** The total cost of ₹11,718.24 crore and the ₹4,102 crore released so far were reported by the centre-rated Live Mint and all three left-rated outlets: The Hindu, The Indian Express, and The Telegraph. None of the right-rated digests mentioned these figures. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/indias-2027-census-to-collect-caste-covid-19-vaccination-and-digital-ids. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "India’s 2027 census to collect caste, COVID-19 vaccination and digital IDs", https://mediabias.news/politics/indias-2027-census-to-collect-caste-covid-19-vaccination-and-digital-ids