In a first, citizens will be able to self-enumerate during upcoming Census; data will be released sooner

In the country's first digital census, enumerators will collect the data of citizens using mobile applications on their Android and Apple phones, officials said.

New Delhi: The data collected through Census 2027 will be released early compared to previous exercises as it will be conducted digitally for the first time, the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India said on Monday.

In a series of posts on 'X' handle 'Census India 2027', the Office of the RG and CCI said the digital census will be conducted in two phases -- House-listing and Housing Census (HLO) starting next April and Enumeration of population likely in February 2027 -- and citizens will have the option of self enumeration for the first time.

The Census 2027 will be the first Digital Census in the country and data will be collected using Mobile Apps in English, Hindi and regional languages. Enumerators and Supervisors will use their own Android and Apple mobile devices for data collection, it said.

"Digital Census initiative is a transformational step towards modernising the Census process. For the first time, technology will be used to collect data and send it electronically to the central server. This will result in early availability of Census data," it said.

Usually, Census data is released two-three years after the exercise, as analysis of data takes time.

The upcoming Census will also have an option for Self-Enumeration through a dedicated web portal and available for both the phases of the Census. Caste of household members will also be enumerated in the ensuing Census.

The post said the Census 2027 will have "focused and need based" training in each phase. There will be a three tier training structure -- National Trainer, Master Trainer and Field Trainer. Field Trainers will impart training to around 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors.

"Census 2027 will have a focused publicity campaign for nationwide awareness, inclusive participation, last-mile engagement and support for field operations. It will emphasise on sharing accurate, authentic and timely information ensuring cohesive and effective outreach effort," it said.

Reference date for the Census 2027 will be 00:00 hrs of March 1, 2027 and 00:00 hrs of October 1, 2026 for Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir and snowbound non-synchronous areas of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. It will be the 16th Census since the start of the exercise in the country and 8th after Independence, for which a gazette notification was issued on June 16.

It has also told the states and Union Territories to make any proposed changes in the boundaries of administrative units before December 31, when they will be considered final for the Census exercise.