Nagaland's Census countdown begins as state notifies boundary freeze

KOHIMA — For a state like Nagaland, with many contentious issues awaiting resolution, the upcoming 2027 Census could be crucial for policymaking and governance, as the state government has repeatedly made the case for an accurate census.

The nationwide exercise, Census 2027, is scheduled to begin on March 1, as previously notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The reference date for the population census will be March 1, 2027, except for the snowbound, non-synchronous areas of the country, where it will be conducted on October 1, 2026.

The decadal census has been delayed, as the last one was held in 2011. In the context of Nagaland, the state government has acknowledged on several occasions that the 2021 Census was postponed due to legal disputes—including challenges from tribal organisations regarding whether the state should use data from 2001 or 2011—and the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In light of this, the government of Nagaland, Home Department, General Administration Branch-1, through a notification dated July 15, 2025, announced that the administrative boundaries of all districts, tehsils, municipalities, subdivisions, and villages shall stand frozen with effect from December 31, 2025.

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The notification stated, “In exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 8 (iv) of the Census Rules, 1990, framed under the Census Act, 1948, the governor of Nagaland is pleased to notify that the administrative boundaries of all districts, tehsils, municipalities, sub-divisions, villages, etc. shall stand frozen with effect from 31st December, 2025.”

It further added that this order shall remain in force from January 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, to facilitate the smooth conduct of Census Operations 2027.

It may be noted that the Census will be conducted in two phases.

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In the first phase, known as the Houselisting Operation (HLO), data on housing conditions, assets, and amenities of each household will be collected.

In the second phase, or Population Enumeration (PE), demographic, socio-economic, cultural, and other details of every individual in each household will be recorded. Caste enumeration will also be carried out for the first time.

This will be the 16th Census since its inception and the 8th after India's Independence. The upcoming Census will be conducted through digital means, using mobile applications. A provision for self-enumeration will also be introduced—a first in the history of Indian Census.