PM Modi launches Census 2027, India’s first digital and self-enumeration drive

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced the launch of the first phase of Census 2027, marking a significant shift toward digital data collection and active citizen participation. Modi said he had personally completed his self-enumeration, signalling the start of what is being hailed as India’s first fully digitally enabled census.

‎“Completed my self enumeration,” the Prime Minister posted on X. “Today marks the beginning of the first phase of Census 2027, relating to house listing and housing operations.”
He added that this edition of the census allows citizens to directly enter their household details using digital tools for the first time.

Advertisement

‎Highlighting the importance of public involvement, Modi urged all citizens to take part in the process. “I appeal to the people of India to self-enumerate their household details themselves and participate in the Census process,” he said, stressing that accurate data depends on widespread participation.

‎The current phase, focused on house listing and housing operations, collects information about housing conditions, amenities, and household assets. This lays the foundation for the next stage of the census, which will capture demographic, social, and economic data.
‎India’s census, conducted every ten years, is among the largest administrative exercises globally and provides essential data for policy making, governance, and resource allocation. The last census took place in 2011, while the 2021 census was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

‎Officials said the digital enumeration process aims to improve efficiency, reduce errors, and accelerate data processing. The self-enumeration option is expected to ease the workload of census officials while giving citizens flexibility and convenience in reporting their household information.

‎Census 2027 is being viewed as a major step toward modernising India’s statistical systems, with technology leveraged to ensure more accurate, transparent, and timely data collection in one of the country’s most critical national exercises.