New Delhi : India on April 1, 2026, rolled out the first phase of its Census 2027, initiating the world’s largest population enumeration exercise and the country’s first fully digital census, complete with a self-enumeration mobile app option. This marks the 16th national census overall and the eighth since Independence.
The launch introduces a major technological shift: enumerators will now collect and submit data directly through a dedicated mobile application on smartphones, moving away from traditional paper forms. Citizens can also opt for self-enumeration by logging into an online portal available in 16 languages, including Hindi and English. Users enter household details using their mobile number and receive a unique Self-Enumeration ID, which they can share when official enumerators visit.
Phase I focuses on the House Listing and Housing Census, covering housing conditions, household amenities, and assets. Enumerators will record details such as construction materials used, number of residents, ownership status, access to water, sanitation, electricity, cooking fuel, and availability of assets like vehicles, mobile phones, and internet services. The government had notified the questions for this phase in January 2026.
The rollout follows staggered schedules across states and Union Territories. In regions including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, and Sikkim, self-enumeration runs from April 1 to April 15, with houselisting from April 16 to May 15. Another set of states and UTs, such as Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, and Haryana, will have self-enumeration from April 16 to April 30, followed by houselisting from May 1 to May 30.
The second phase, Population Enumeration, is slated for February 2027. Snow-bound areas in Ladakh, parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh will follow an earlier timeline starting September 2026. The reference date for the main census is March 1, 2027 (00:00 hours), while October 1, 2026, serves as the reference for snow-bound regions. Caste enumeration will also occur during the second phase.
Over three million enumerators, supervisors, and officials will participate nationwide. The Union government has sanctioned a budget of ₹11,718.24 crore to cover technology, logistics, and training. Authorities have conducted extensive training programs and implemented measures to ensure data security.
This digital-first approach, featuring real-time monitoring and self-enumeration, represents a significant modernisation of India’s census process while maintaining its unmatched scale and complexity.
Also Read: Commercial LPG Cylinder Prices Hiked By Up To Rs 218 In Major Cities Amid Iran War And Oil Surge