New Delhi: The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) organised a national consultation on Census 2027 to discuss how persons with disabilities can be accurately counted and included in the enumeration exercise.
Held at Vishwa Yuva Kendra in Delhi, the consultation brought together around 1,000 participants, both in person and online. They included members of the National Disability Network, disability rights organisations, parents and caregivers, scholars and researchers.
The consultation focused on concerns about the enumeration of persons with disabilities and the need to make the Census inclusive and accessible. Census 2027 will be the first decennial Census since the enactment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, which recognises 21 types of disabilities.
“The Census 2027 will be the first decennial census since the enactment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, which recognises 21 types of disabilities. The census has been delayed by six years, making it imperative for persons with disabilities to be accurately counted,” NCPEDP said in a statement.
NCPEDP, a non-profit organisation working to promote the rights, equal opportunities, employment and accessibility of persons with disabilities, stressed that accurate data is essential to ensure they are represented in government policies and receive appropriate services and support. Without reliable figures, their needs risk being overlooked in development plans.
The organisation said it had received numerous queries from persons with different disabilities, groups working with neurodivergent people and persons with intellectual disabilities, and caregivers about how they would be counted.
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Living in uncertainty
A Gazette of India notification dated 14 August 2026 lists disability as Question No. 13 in the Census. Available information suggests that nine categories will cover 21 types of disabilities. However, questions remain about online self-enumeration, accessible digital facilities, public awareness and the process for counting persons with disabilities.
Participants also called for Census officials to be trained to communicate with persons with disabilities sensitively and respectfully, and to understand their specific needs.
Representatives from 30 states shared their experiences and offered to support Census-related activities. They flagged low awareness of online self-enumeration and stressed the need for more training to help officials address disability-related requirements.
“Persons with disabilities continue to live in uncertainty and fear, worried that they may once again be left out of being counted. Without accurate enumeration, their needs and lived realities risk remaining invisible in government policies and development priorities,” NCPEDP said.
The consultation also highlighted the challenges faced by people with high support needs, persons affected by leprosy living in isolated colonies, and those in remote and underserved areas, who may face greater barriers to being counted.
The consultation concluded with a call to launch the nationwide “Missing Millions Campaign” to raise awareness among persons with disabilities, their families and other stakeholders. The campaign will seek support from the media and civil society to ensure that persons with disabilities are included in Census 2027.
(Edited by Janaki Pande)