India's Digital Census: Rs 82/Head, Costliest Ever, First with Caste Data

• India's upcoming 2026-27 census will be its first fully digital headcount.
• The census is projected to cost Rs 82 per person, making it India's costliest ever on a per-capita basis.
• The total approved cost for the 2027 census is Rs 11,718.24 crore.
• Increased costs are attributed to inflation, digitisation, and the inclusion of caste enumeration, a first in nearly a century.
• The census will be conducted in two phases: house listing in 2026 and population enumeration in early 2027.

Why It Matters: India's costliest digital census with caste data offers unprecedented demographic insights.