2027 Census Update: Beggars and Vagabonds Category Removed from Questionnaire, New Data Parameters Introduced
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The upcoming 2027 Census in India is set to feature significant modifications compared to previous enumerations. In a major shift, the government has decided to remove the specific categories of beggars and vagabonds from the questionnaire's non-economic activities list, meaning separate data for this demographic will no longer be officially recorded.
Why Was the Beggar Category Removed?
According to official sources, this decision stems from the exceptionally low and unreliable figures recorded in past exercises. During the 2011 census, only about 3.8 lakh non-working and marginal individuals identified themselves under this category. Historical data shows similar low numbers, with 6.3 lakh recorded in 2001 and 5.4 lakh in 1991.
Officials note that many individuals in this group hesitated to disclose their status due to fear of social stigma, rendering the collected data statistically unreliable. Moving forward, individuals who previously fell into this classification will instead be counted under the broader "others" category, eliminating state, age, and religious breakdowns for beggars in census tables.
Key Additions and Changes in the 2027 Questionnaire
Aside from dropping the beggar category, the 2027 census introduces several structural and informational updates:
New Migration Reason: Alongside traditional relocation reasons like work, business, education, marriage, and family moves, natural disasters have now been officially added as a valid reason for migration.
Parental Information Columns: New columns for the father's and mother's date, place of birth, and religion have been added. These are specifically required if parents are not registered within the same household or are deceased, helping track aggregate demographic trends such as interfaith marriages and citizenship criteria.
Voluntary ID Submissions: While enumeration forms request mobile numbers, voter IDs, passports, and other identification documents, data collectors have been instructed to persuade rather than mandate submission, ensuring data confidentiality with options to leave fields blank if respondents hesitate.
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