Census 2027 to Go Fully Digital in Two Phases
India’s Census 2027, announced by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, will be conducted in two phases. The first phase, from April to September 2026, will involve houselisting and housing data collection, including information on the head of household, household amenities, and assets, with sex categories recorded as Male, Female, or Transgender. Questions for this phase have already been notified, and respondents will have the option of self-enumeration via a digital portal with built-in FAQs, tool tips, and validation checks.
The second phase, scheduled for February 2027, will involve population enumeration at the individual level. Around 3.2 million enumerators and supervisors will conduct house-to-house visits using handheld devices to collect and transmit data digitally, monitored through the Census Monitoring and Management System (CMMS). Enumerators and supervisors are receiving comprehensive training, and validation rules in the mobile app will ensure accuracy and consistency of data, while data security is being prioritised at all stages.
Census 2027 marks a major shift toward full digitalisation, replacing paper forms with electronic collection. Digital mapping, geo-tagging, and demarcation of houselisting and enumeration blocks will streamline logistics, minimise overlaps, and strengthen data integrity. The Registrar General of India, Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan, highlighted that these technological measures will enhance both the speed and quality of data collection, modernising India’s decennial headcount.
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