India’s 16th Census exercise, and the eighth since Independence, began on Wednesday with the launch of the first phase of Census 2027, marking a historic shift as the survey will be conducted digitally for the first time.
The massive nationwide exercise will be carried out in two phases, with the initial phase – House Listing and Housing Census (HLO) – starting today across select states and Union Territories. For the first time, citizens will also have the option of self-enumeration through an online portal.
The Census is being conducted under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948 and related rules. The last Census was held in 2011.
Digital-first Census with Self-Enumeration Option
In a major technological upgrade, enumerators will collect and submit data using mobile applications on smartphones. Additionally, a self-enumeration portal has been introduced, allowing individuals to fill in their details online before the enumerator’s visit. Both the mobile app and portal will be available in 16 languages, including Hindi and English.
Respondents opting for self-enumeration can log in using their mobile number, complete the required details, and receive a unique Self-Enumeration ID, which must be shared with the enumerator during verification.
Two-Phase Exercise
The Census will be conducted in two stages:
Phase I – House Listing and Housing Census (HLO): Scheduled between April and September 2026, this phase will collect data on housing conditions, amenities, and household assets. It will be conducted over a 30-day period in each state or UT, preceded by a 15-day self-enumeration window.
Phase II – Population Enumeration (PE): To be conducted in February 2027, this phase will gather detailed information on demographic, socio-economic, education, migration, and fertility aspects. Enumeration of castes will also be carried out during this phase.
The reference date for the Census is March 1, 2027, while for snow-bound and non-synchronous areas such as Ladakh, parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, it is October 1, 2026.
State-wise Rollout
In the first phase, states and UTs including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Delhi (NDMC and Cantonment areas), Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, and Sikkim will conduct houselisting from April 16 to May 15, with self-enumeration from April 1 to 15.
Another group of states, including Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, and Haryana, will begin houselisting from May 1 to May 30, preceded by self-enumeration from April 16 to 30.
Massive Scale and Preparations
The Union Government has approved an outlay of ₹11,718.24 crore for the exercise, covering training, logistics, IT infrastructure, and honorarium for personnel.
The Census will cover 36 States and UTs, over 7,000 sub-districts, more than 5,100 statutory towns, 4,580 census towns, and nearly 6.4 lakh villages.
Extensive preparations have been made, including a nationwide pre-test conducted in November 2025 across around 5,000 blocks. A large-scale training programme is also underway, involving about 31 lakh enumerators and supervisors trained through multiple tiers of trainers.
Enhanced Monitoring and Data Security
A dedicated digital platform has been developed for real-time monitoring of field activities, including allocation of work, training management, and data processing. Houselisting blocks will be created using web-based mapping tools, and robust measures have been put in place to ensure data security.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the introduction of digital tools and self-enumeration aims to improve efficiency, accuracy, and convenience, making Census 2027 one of the most technologically advanced population surveys conducted globally.
(With ANI inputs)
