India is set to carry out its first fully digital population census in 2027, marking a major technological shift in the way demographic data is collected across the country. For the first time, citizens will be able to submit their details online through a self-enumeration system.
Mritunjay Kumar Naraya stated that the nationwide exercise—considered the largest of its kind globally—will be conducted in two phases, beginning in April 2026.
Two-Phase Enumeration Plan
The first phase, focusing on housing and infrastructure, will begin in April 2026 and continue over several months. During this stage, officials will collect data on household conditions, availability of amenities, and asset ownership. Each state and Union Territory will carry out this exercise within a fixed 30-day period, preceded by a 15-day window for residents to voluntarily submit their information online.
The second phase, expected in early 2027, will focus on individual-level data, including demographic, educational, economic, and migration-related details. Special provisions have been made for snow-bound and remote regions such as Ladakh, parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, where enumeration will be conducted earlier due to weather conditions.
Digital Push and Self-Enumeration
In a departure from previous methods, enumerators will use mobile applications to record and upload data in real time. An online portal will also allow households to independently complete their census forms. After submission, users will receive a unique identification number, which must be presented during verification visits by officials.
Authorities said the digital platforms will support multiple Indian languages to ensure accessibility across diverse regions, while robust measures have been implemented to protect data privacy and security.
Massive Nationwide Exercise
The census will engage over three million field workers, including enumerators and supervisors, making it one of the largest administrative exercises in the country. Training programmes have already been rolled out, with multiple levels of trainers preparing personnel to effectively handle digital tools and data collection.
The government has allocated more than Rs 11,700 crore for the exercise, covering logistics, training, technological infrastructure, and compensation for field staff.
Caste Data to Be Included
Officials confirmed that caste-related data will also be collected during the second phase, adding an important dimension to the exercise. Detailed questionnaires for this phase will be released closer to the enumeration period.
Coverage and Timeline
The census will cover all states and Union Territories, spanning thousands of towns and villages across India. Administrative boundaries have been frozen for the duration of the exercise to maintain consistency in data collection.
The reference date for the population count has been set as March 1, 2027. For the Union Territory of Ladakh and snow-bound non-synchronous areas of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, the reference date will be 00:00 hours on October 1, 2026.
