New Delhi: India on Wednesday launched the first phase of Census 2027, marking the beginning of what is expected to be the world’s largest population enumeration initiative, to be conducted in a digitalized format.
It is India’s 16th Census. It will begin with the listing of households and the housing phase is starting today, which will be conducted across states and Union Territories in a staggered manner.
In a first, census enumerators will use a dedicated mobile application on smartphones to collect and upload data, replacing the paper-based
process. Alongside this, citizens can also submit their details through a self-enumeration portal.
The facility allows residents to log in using their mobile numbers, fill in household details and receive a self-enumeration ID, which they can present to officials during field verification.
Authorities say the portal and mobile applications will be available in several Indian languages to better accessibility and participation.
It will be conducted in two phases. The first phase focuses on housing conditions, household amenities and assets, while the second phase, scheduled for 2027, will cover population enumeration.
Officials said the digital transition will help speed up data processing and may allow parts of the census data to be released within the same year.
The census remains a critical exercise for governance as it provides data used for policy planning, welfare schemes, infrastructure development and resource allocation.