On February 4, 2026, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs informed the Rajya Sabha that questions on caste for the Census 2027 will be finalized and notified before the second phase begins. Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said in a written reply, "The questions, including on caste, for the second phase would be finalised and notified as per established procedure." He responded to DMK member Rajathi's query about consultations with states, especially Tamil Nadu, on caste enumeration. The reply confirmed, "Several representations regarding the enumeration of caste have been received from various organisations of different States, including of the State of Tamil Nadu." The Census operation happens in two phases. The first phase from April 1 to September 30 will cover house listings including housing conditions and assets. The second phase, to be concluded by February 2027, will collect demographic and socioeconomic details from every person. The Government notified questions for the first phase on January 22, 2026. The second phase questions, including caste enumeration, will be announced before it starts. According to The Hindu, the final caste questionnaire may be known in September 2026 when the second phase is first conducted in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir’s snowbound areas, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The rest of the country will have caste enumeration in February 2027. This Census will be the 16th and the first in Independent India to count all castes beyond Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Both phases will finish early by September 30 in the snowbound regions.