CURRENT AFFAIRS | 1 MAY 2026
CLAT GK + GOVERNMENT SCHEMES + CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
India’s first fully digital census moved into a new phase on 1 May 2026, with the Self-Enumeration window opening for residents of Delhi (MCD areas), Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Meghalaya till 15 May. Citizens log in to se.census.gov.in using a mobile OTP, drop a digital pin on a government-supplied map to mark their house, fill household and housing details across 31 parameters, and receive a unique SE ID. The enumerator then verifies the data during the Houselisting & Housing Operations (HLO) phase running 16 May to 14 June 2026 in Delhi.
Census 2027 marks two firsts: it is digital end-to-end (the SE portal supports 16 languages, mobile apps replace paper schedules, results are GIS-tagged) and it includes an enumeration of caste for the first time since 1931 — a long-pending demand revived in 2025. The actual Population Enumeration phase will run February 2027 across most of India, with reference date 1 March 2027 (1 October 2026 for snowbound areas).
Constitutional & Legal Framework
- Article 246 + Union List Entry 69 (Seventh Schedule) — “Census” is an exclusive Union subject.
- Census Act, 1948 — empowers the Centre to declare a census; Section 8 makes responses compulsory; Section 15 grants confidentiality.
- Census Rules, 1990 — operational schedules, forms, enumerator powers.
- Office of Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India (RGCCI) — under Ministry of Home Affairs; headed by C. Chandramouli (current RGCCI).
Why It Matters For CLAT 2027
Census 2027 packages multiple syllabus hooks: federal architecture (Union List Entry 69), constitutional history (decennial tradition since 1881), government schemes (Digital India, governance reforms), privacy law (Census Act §15 vs Puttaswamy), and data-protection overlap with the DPDP Act 2023. Expect passage-style questions linking digital enumeration to fundamental right to privacy, and on the Centre-State dynamic when caste data is published.
Key Facts At A Glance
| Phase | Dates / Detail |
|---|---|
| SE for Delhi (MCD) | May 1-15, 2026 |
| Houselisting Delhi | May 16 – June 14, 2026 |
| Population Enumeration | February 2027 (ref. 1 March 2027) |
| Portal | se.census.gov.in (16 languages) |
| First census | 1881 (synchronous decennial) |
| Censuses delayed | 2021 (COVID-19 postponement) |
Mnemonic — “DIGITS” of Census 2027
Digital end-to-end · Inclusive (caste enumeration) · GIS-tagged · ID-based (SE ID) · Two phases (HLO + PE) · Self-enumeration optional. Carry “DIGITS” in your head for the Census 2027 GK section.
Practice Quiz — 10 CLAT-Style Questions
Click an option to reveal the answer and explanation.
