More than 5.72 lakh households have availed the self-enumeration facility during the first phase of Census 2027, the Registrar General of India (RGI) said on Friday, signalling a growing uptake of the digital initiative introduced for the first time in the country’s decennial exercise.
In a post on X, the RGI said the response reflects increasing public participation in the online process. “By choosing to provide their details online, these families have embraced a faster, smarter and a more convenient way to contribute to nation-building,” it said.
The Census 2027 exercise commenced on April 1 across eight states and Union territories, including select areas of the national capital — the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Cantonment. A 15-day self-enumeration window was introduced as part of the first phase, marking a departure from traditional enumeration practices.
The online facility has been made available in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Sikkim, Odisha, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, and notified areas under NDMC and the Cantonment Board in Delhi. Citizens in these regions can log on to a dedicated portal, fill in responses to a set of prescribed questions, and submit their details digitally.
Upon completion, households generate a unique identification number, which must be shared with enumerators during their physical visit for verification as part of the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) process.
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The HLO phase, set to begin in these regions from April 16, involves enumerators visiting each structure and household to collect detailed information. Officials said the exercise will include 33 questions covering housing conditions, access to basic amenities, and demographic details such as the name, sex and ownership status of the head of the household.
The Census 2027, the eighth since Independence, is being conducted in two phases: the Houselisting and Housing Census, followed by the Population Census scheduled for next year. The HLO phase aims to create a comprehensive database of all buildings and households, forming the foundation for the subsequent population enumeration.
In a significant technological shift, the entire exercise is being conducted digitally for the first time. Enumerators will use a dedicated mobile application to collect and upload data, replacing the conventional paper-based system.
Officials said the move is expected to enhance accuracy, reduce delays in data processing, and streamline the overall enumeration process. The introduction of self-enumeration is also seen as an attempt to improve efficiency while offering citizens greater convenience and flexibility in participating in the nationwide survey.
The government has maintained that the digital transition will make the Census more transparent, accessible and robust, while ensuring that data collection keeps pace with technological advancements.
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