The population-count exercise is slated to be completed in two phases, with the reference date set as March 1, 2027. (Representative image: Unsplash) Show Quick Read Summary is AI Generated. Newsroom Reviewed

The Union Cabinet on Friday approved a financial outlay of Rs 11,728 crore for Census 2027, which will be a two-phased exercise starting from next year.

The upcoming census will be 16th in the series as the last Census took place in 2011, and the eighth one after Independence.

The population-count exercise is slated to be completed in two phases, with the reference date set as March 1, 2027.

The first phase will cover "houselisting and housing census" – from April to September 2026 – and the second round will cover population enumeration in February 2027. For Ladakh, and snow

See Full Page