Census activities at an advanced stage, first phase to start from April 1: RGI Mritunjay Kumar Narayan

Census activities for the 2027 population count are at an advanced stage, Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India Mritunjay Kumar Narayan said on Monday (March 30, 2026). Field operations of the first phase of the Census will start in some States from April 1, he added.

Mr Narayan noted that the 2027 Census will be conducted in two phases, with the enumeration to be done digitally this time.

The first phase will work as a framework for the final enumeration phase, with about 31 lakh enumerators and supervisors, and more than one lakh Census functionaries participating in the process. Additionally, residents will be able to Self enumerate this time. Self-enumeration will only be available for those who reside in the country.

Mr. Narayan informed that questions for second phase will be notified in few months. During this phase, caste will also be enumerated, as Cabinet has given nod for the same. Caste enumeration methodology, however, has not been finalised yet. Religion will also be counted during the second phase.

Giving further details about the 2027 Census, Mr. Narayan said that enumerators will use personal mobile phones to collect data, whereas the self enumeration portal will be available in 16 languages, for which a 16-digit ID will be generated. When the enumerator will visit the house, that ID is to be handed over to them so that the information can be verified. Further, no documents or proof will be required to be submitted during Census enumeration, Mr. Narayan said.

Assuring that the Census data will be confidential and will not be shared with anyone, Mr. Narayan said it is imperative that people share data truthfully. “There is no scope of investigation of data provided during Census,” he added.

This is the first Census since 2011 as the exercise that was scheduled for 2021 was delayed, initially due to the COVID-19 pandemic.