India marks a historic milestone today as the field operations for the 2027 Census commence. This stands as the nation’s first-ever digital census, aimed at creating a more accurate and efficient national database. The process is expected to span over a year, with the current phase focusing on comprehensive data collection and housing statistics across various regions.

Field Operations and Digital Integration

The Ministry of Home Affairs has initiated the first phase—House Listing and Housing Census—in states and union territories including Odisha, Sikkim, Goa, and Karnataka. This field operation will continue until the 15th of next month. While trained enumerators will visit households for physical verification, the highlight remains the integration of digital tools to streamline the entire collection process.

Self-Enumeration Portal and Easy Access

To empower citizens, a self-enumeration portal has been launched, supporting 16 different languages. Residents can log in using their mobile numbers to fill out the census forms independently. Upon submission, a unique reference ID will be generated and sent to the registered mobile. This ID must be presented to the enumerators when they visit for verification, significantly reducing processing time and ensuring data precision.

At a Glance

• The 2027 Census is India’s first-ever digital and paperless counting exercise.
• Initial house-listing operations have started today in select states including Odisha, Sikkim, and Karnataka.
• A self-enumeration portal is available in 16 languages for citizens to submit data online.
• Users must provide the reference ID generated through the portal to enumerators during house visits.