Patna: Bihar’s government has announced the dates for the state’s upcoming census, which will be conducted in two phases over 45 days, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha confirmed on Saturday.
According to Sinha, the Census Cell of the Revenue and Land Reforms Department will oversee the entire exercise. The first phase, which involves preparatory activities, will take place from April 17 to May 1, 2026. The second phase, consisting of house-to-house surveys and data collection, is scheduled from May 2 to May 31, 2026.
Sinha emphasised that all census work will remain strictly confidential under the provisions of the Census Act of 1946.
For the 2027 census, Bihar will also include data on caste, in addition to standard population metrics. The central government recently informed Parliament that India’s census is conducted in two stages. The initial phase, known as house listing, collects information on residential status, property, and household facilities. The second phase gathers detailed demographic, social, economic, and cultural information about individuals, including questions on caste.
The move marks the first time in decades that caste data will be officially collected as part of the nationwide census, a decision seen as politically and socially significant across the country.
