India to Conduct 8th Economic Census in 2027 After Population Census Cycle

Why in the News?

The Government of India has announced that the 8th Economic Census (EC) will be conducted in 2027, immediately following the two-phase Population Census scheduled for 2026–27. The new EC aims to build a modernised and unified Statistical Business Register (SBR) for improved national-level economic planning.

What is Economic Census (EC)?

Definition

The Economic Census is a complete enumeration of all establishments engaged in the production or distribution of goods and services other than for purely personal/household consumption.

Conducting Agencies

• Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
• National Statistical Office (NSO)
• Conducted in partnership with Directorates of Economics & Statistics (DES) of all States/UTs

Historical Background

• First conducted in 1977
• Subsequent censuses: 1980, 1990, 1998, 2005, 2013, and 2019
• The 8th EC will follow a gap of nearly eight years since the last (2019) edition

Key Features of the 8th Economic Census (2027)

1. Creation of a Unified Statistical Business Register (SBR)

• Data from EC 2027 will feed into the SBR, a digitalised, comprehensive database of all enterprises in India
• SBR will help identify:
  • Active vs inactive enterprises
  • Sector-wise economic activity
  • Employment patterns
  • Industrial clustering across states

2. Improved Economic Data Accuracy

The SBR enables accurate tracking of business dynamics—closures, new enterprises, sectoral shifts—leading to stronger evidence-based policymaking.

3. Enhanced National Accounts Estimates

Accurate establishment-level data will support:

• GDP estimations
• Index of Industrial Production (IIP)
• MSME mapping
• Sectoral policy planning

Population Census 2026–27: Key Highlights

About the Census

India’s Population Census is the largest administrative exercise in the world.

Legal Basis

• Conducted under Census Act, 1948
• Governed by Census Rules, 1990

Administrative Structure

• Headed by:
  • Registrar General of India (RGI)
  • Census Commissioner of India

Significance

Provides granular data at village, town, ward and district levels on:

• Population & demography
• Religion, caste (SC/ST)
• Education & literacy
• Housing & amenities
• Economic activity
• Migration
• Fertility & marital status
• Language distribution

Historical Context

• The 2027 Census will be India’s 16th decennial census
• First synchronous nationwide Census was conducted in 1872
• The last Census (2011) preceded a 16-year gap due to COVID-19

Why Conduct EC After Population Census?

A combined cycle of population and economic enumeration helps:

• Create high-quality baseline datasets
• Align population dynamics with enterprise distribution
• Improve targeting of subsidies, infrastructure, and welfare
• Strengthen econometric modelling for national planning