National: The 2026 Census & The “New Tax” Era

NEW DELHI: India has entered a new era of governance today as the Census 2026 officially kicks off. This is the world’s largest enumeration exercise, involving 3 million officials and a $1.24 billion budget. For the first time, the census is “fully digital,” allowing citizens to self-enumerate via a secure portal. This 16th census is critical, as it comes after a 15-year gap (the 2021 census was delayed) and will provide the data backbone for India’s “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision.

Parallelly, the Income Tax Framework (ITF) 2026 has replaced the 1961 Act starting this morning. The most viral aspect of this reform is the ₹12 lakh effective tax-free limit under the New Tax Regime (after rebates). This shift toward a simplified, exemption-free structure is designed to put more disposable income into the hands of the middle class, while the Old Tax Regime remains an option for those with heavy investments in traditional savings. This “Financial Reset” marks the most significant change to the Indian taxpayer’s life in over half a century.