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Studying abroad, visiting India or working overseas? Who gets counted in Census 2027

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

India's upcoming census will include residents traveling abroad temporarily only if they return home within a strict 35-day window. Foreign nationals residing, working, or studying within the country will be recorded during the enumeration, although their inclusion does not confer any citizenship rights. Meanwhile, seasonal migrant laborers will be counted at their current working residences rather than their hometowns, helping officials maintain strict geographic accuracy.

Key points

  • The upcoming census assesses the actual resident population of the country rather than fo…: The upcoming census assesses the actual resident population of the country rather than formal citizenship status.
  • Door-to-door enumeration will run from December 1, 2026, through January 4, 2027, precede…: Door-to-door enumeration will run from December 1, 2026, through January 4, 2027, preceded by an online phase.
  • Final official census data will be published in April 2027 following an early January rev…: Final official census data will be published in April 2027 following an early January revisional round.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Sheetal Verma, director of census operations and chief principal census officer, Uttar Pradesh, explained that temporary absence from India was different from ordinarily residing overseas.

LUCKNOW: Indian residents temporarily travelling abroad during Census 2027 will be counted at their usual place of residence if they return within 35 days, subject to enumeration rules.The clarification comes ahead of the 15-day online self-enumeration exercise beginning Nov 16, which will continue until Nov 30, followed by door-to-door population enumeration from Dec 1, 2026, to Jan 4, 2027.Sheetal Verma, director of census operations and chief principal census officer, Uttar Pradesh, explained that temporary absence from India was different from ordinarily residing overseas.Indian citizens studying, working or permanently residing abroad throughout the enumeration period would generally not be included in their family's household merely because they hold Indian passports.Parents completing online self-enumeration should therefore not include children ordinarily residing abroad.However, if a temporarily absent family member returns during the enumeration period and qualifies for inclusion, the enumerator can update the household details during the physical visit.Personnel posted at Indian diplomatic missions abroad will be covered…

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