PM Modi Approves Census: Caste Disclosure Optional

• India's census approved, costing ₹11.71 crore, to be conducted in two phases: House-listing (April-Sept 2026) and Population Enumeration (Feb 2027).
• General questions will cover income, age, gender, education, religion, mother tongue, disability, social status, occupation, and marital status.
• Individuals can choose whether to disclose their caste; it is not mandatory, as stated by the minister.
• Census data will be fully secure, with no possibility of leakage, supported by data protection laws like DPDPA.
• The census is crucial for policy-making, planning, and research, involving approximately 30 lakh field staff and utilizing mobile apps for data collection.

Why It Matters: India's census will gather vital data for national planning, policy, and resource allocation.