Historic Shift in India’s Census 2027: Live-in Couples to Be Counted as ‘Married’

In a landmark move reflecting evolving social realities, the central government has introduced significant changes to the framework of India’s upcoming Census 2027. As per the newly proposed guidelines, couples living in live-in relationships will now be classified under the ‘married’ category for census purposes.

This decision marks a major transformation in how household and relationship data will be recorded in India. Until now, only legally married individuals were categorized as ‘married’ in official census records. However, acknowledging the changing societal landscape, the government has opted for a more inclusive approach.

Key Rationale Behind the Decision

1. Strengthening Social Security
Recognizing live-in relationships as equivalent to marriage in census data can help safeguard the rights of women and children, offering them better access to legal and welfare benefits.

2. Improved Data Accuracy
With a growing number of couples opting for live-in arrangements, this move will ensure more accurate and realistic demographic and family structure data.

3. Judicial Backing
The decision is believed to align with observations made by the Supreme Court of India in various cases, where long-term live-in relationships have been granted legal recognition similar to marriage.

Key Features of Census 2027

The census is expected to be conducted in a fully digital format

Citizens may get the option to self-update their data online

Updated forms likely to include categories reflecting modern relationship structures

This progressive step signals a broader shift toward inclusivity and modernization in India’s governance and data systems, potentially influencing future policymaking and welfare schemes.

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