29 Sep 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

Census 2027

Why in News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently described Census 2027 as a national responsibility requiring public participation.

What Makes Census 2027 Different?

• It will be India's first digital Census: enumerators will collect information through mobile apps.

• Citizens will also have an online self-enumeration option.

• The source states that caste-related information will be collected for all individuals during the population-enumeration phase, for the first time since Independence.

Two-Phase Exercise

• House Listing and Housing Census -> April-September 2026.

• Population Enumeration -> February 2027.

Reference Dates

• Main reference date -> 00:00 hours on 1 March 2027.

• For Ladakh and snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand -> 00:00 hours on 1 October 2026.

Census Number

• It will be India's 16th Census and the 8th after Independence.

Quick Recall

• First digital Census -> mobile-app enumeration + self-enumeration option.

• Two phases -> House Listing/Housing Census + Population Enumeration.

• Main reference date -> 1 March 2027.

• Snow-bound regions reference date -> 1 October 2026.

• 16th Census; 8th after Independence.

2. Right to Vote and Universal Adult Suffrage

Why in News: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor recently criticised the Election Commission over a report alleging that eligible voters in Goa were left out of the final electoral roll despite efforts by election officials to restore their names. The issue renewed attention on the right to vote, electoral rolls and universal adult suffrage in India.

Universal Adult Suffrage in India

• India adopted universal adult suffrage from the beginning of the Republic.

• Adult citizens were granted voting rights without discrimination based on gender, caste, religion, education or property.

• Article 326 provides for universal adult suffrage in elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.

• Article 325 provides for one general electoral roll and prohibits exclusion only on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex.

• The voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 years by the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988.

Statutory Framework

• Representation of the People Act, 1950 - Section 21 governs preparation and revision of electoral rolls.

• Representation of the People Act, 1951 regulates election conduct, candidature and electoral offences.

• Section 62 of the RPA, 1951 deals with the right to vote and restrictions on voting.

Quick Recall

• Article 326 -> universal adult suffrage.

• Article 325 -> one general electoral roll; no exclusion solely on religion, race, caste or sex.

• Voting age -> 18 after 61st Amendment, 1988.

• RPA 1950 -> electoral rolls.

• RPA 1951 -> conduct of elections; Section 62 deals with voting.

Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary

Why in News: The sanctuary was highlighted in the Prime Minister's Mann ki Baat in the context of environmental conservation.

Key Facts

• Located in Assam.

• Declared a Game Reserve in 1934 and a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1998.

• The Gabharu, Gelgeli, Sonai and Rupai rivers are associated with the sanctuary.

• It is important for elephants and supports gaur, tiger, leopard, one-horned rhinoceros, pygmy hog and White-winged Wood Duck.

Quick Recall

• State -> Assam.

• Game Reserve -> 1934.

• Wildlife Sanctuary -> 1998.

• Associated rivers -> Gabharu, Gelgeli, Sonai and Rupai.

• Important elephant habitat with several threatened and flagship species.