India's Census Transforms with Digital Self-Enumeration Portal

New Delhi, Jul 7 (PTI) – A new digital initiative is set to transform the upcoming Census in India with the launch of a special web portal for self-enumeration. This online platform will be accessible for both phases of the national enumeration exercise, according to officials. The announcement on Monday marks a significant shift in the way census data is collected in the country.

For the first time in India's census history, enumerators will use mobile applications on Android and Apple devices to gather citizens’ data. Additionally, citizens will have the opportunity to self-enumerate via a dedicated web portal, applicable for both the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) and Population Enumeration phases.

An official highlighted that the Digital Census initiative represents a transformational step in modernizing the process. Utilizing technology for data collection and electronic transmission to a central server is expected to expedite the availability of Census data.

Robust security measures are being implemented to safeguard data throughout collection, transmission, and storage. The Houselisting Operation will commence on April 1, 2026, followed by the second phase on February 1, 2027, dedicated to Population Enumeration. The enumeration will include details on castes of household members.

The reference date for Census 2027 is set at 00:00 hrs on March 1, 2027, with exceptions for the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir and snowbound non-synchronous regions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, where it will be at 00:00 hrs on October 1, 2026.

This forthcoming Census will be India's 16th since inception and the 8th since Independence, confirmed by a gazette notification issued on June 16. The Registrar General of India (RGI) has outlined a comprehensive three-tier training program for the Census phases, designating national trainers, master trainers, and field trainers.

Around 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors will be trained in this massive undertaking. The RGI has advised states and Union Territories to finalize any changes in administrative unit boundaries by December 31. Post this date, these boundaries will be fixed for the Census exercise.

In correspondence with all states and Union Territories, Registrar General and Census Commissioner Mritunjay Kumar Narayan emphasized the strategic division of villages and towns into uniform enumeration blocks for accurate population counting. An enumerator will be assigned to each block, ensuring comprehensive coverage.

As per the guidelines, Census activities can only start three months after the boundaries of administrative units such as districts, sub-districts, tehsils, talukas, and police stations are frozen. Mritunjay Kumar Narayan noted that from April 1, 2026, the organization of houselisting operations, alongside the appointment of supervisors and enumerators, will take place; the comprehensive population enumeration will officially commence on February 1, 2027.