2027 Census India: Refusing Info? Fines, Jail Possible Under Law.

• India's first digital census is scheduled for 2027, with the central government approving ₹11,718.24 crore for the initiative.
• Under the 1948 Census Act, it is legally mandatory for every citizen to provide information to census officials.
• Deliberately refusing to answer census questions can result in a fine of up to ₹1000.
• Serious offenses like obstructing officials or repeated refusal may lead to up to three years imprisonment, though this provision is rarely applied.
• The Census Act also penalizes officials who fail to perform their duties or manipulate data, with potential imprisonment up to three years.

Why It Matters: Citizens face fines or jail for refusing information in the mandatory 2027 digital Census India.