Centre Amends Census Rules to Let Private School Teachers Serve
The Centre has amended the Census Rules, 1990, to allow states and Union territories to appoint teachers of private aided and unaided institutions as enumerators for Census 2027. The change was made through a gazette notification issued by Registrar General of India Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan on Friday, October 16.
Who Can Now Be Appointed
The amended rules list three categories. The first covers “teachers of any educational institution of the government, local authority, aided or unaided private bodies, societies or trusts”. The second covers clerks and officials of the Centre, states, local authorities and establishments, including public sector undertakings, statutory bodies, banks and companies.
The third category allows a state government or Union territory administration to appoint any other person it considers suitable to work as an enumerator.
Why the Change Came Now
The amendment follows court orders that stayed requisitions of private school teachers for Census work. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had stayed two Haryana government orders after a challenge by the Haryana Progressive Schools Conference, which argued that the government lacked legal authority under the Census Act, 1948 and the 1990 rules. Similar stays were reported from the Allahabad High Court and the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court.
The house-listing phase ran from April to September 2026 across India except Manipur. Population enumeration is due in February 2027, but in poll-bound Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa it has been moved to December 1, 2026 to January 4, 2027.
What It Means for Schools and Families
Private school teachers in many states may now be called for Census duty, which could affect class schedules during the enumeration period. Parents and school managements will want to watch how states plan deployments around examinations.
For households, a larger pool of enumerators could help the count finish on time. Census 2027 is described as India’s first digital Census, using mobile-based data collection, and it will include caste enumeration. It has an outlay of Rs 11,718.24 crore.
The High Court case in Haryana is next listed for April 29, 2027. More governance news is available in our Daily Updates section.
Based on reporting by The Tribune and Business Standard.
Image: The Tribune / iStock.
