No private data sought, ID details only if available: J&K, Ladakh Census chief
India's Census 2027 will commence in Ladakh and snow-bound areas of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, featuring 40 questions, including 13 new data fields. Officials assure that no private data is sought, only identity document details if available, and all information remains confidential under the Census Act.
Why it matters
The Census is a crucial exercise for policy-making and resource allocation, and the inclusion of new data fields, particularly identity documents, raises important discussions about data collection, privacy, and government transparency.
The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RG&CCI) on August 14 notified 40 questions for Population Enumeration, the second phase of the Census 2027, which will begin in Ladakh and snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand from August 17 and continue till September 30, ahead of the rest of the country, where the exercise will be conducted in February 2027.
The Census 2027 questionnaire will include 13 new questions or data fields that were not part of the Census 2011 questionnaire, which had 29 questions.
The new questions seek information on the spouse’s name, nationality, father and mother’s particulars, digital literacy, permanent residential address, place of COVID-19 vaccination, number of bank accounts, passport, driving licence and mobile, Aadhaar and voter ID numbers, if available.
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