Bhubaneswar: The Government of India has officially launched the first phase of Census 2027, introducing a major digital reform through a Self-Enumeration portal that allows citizens to submit their details online.
The initiative, rolled out under the supervision of the Ministry of Home Affairs, marks the beginning of the Houselisting and Housing Census, with select states including Odisha joining the first phase from April 1.
15-Day Window for Online Submission
Citizens in participating regions will have a 15-day window (April 1–15) to complete their census details online before enumerators begin door-to-door verification from April 16.
The exercise is being conducted under the theme “Our Census, Our Development”, aimed at improving data accuracy and efficiency.
How Self-Enumeration Works
The digital process has been designed to be simple and secure:
-
Visit the official portal and log in using mobile OTP verification
-
Select location details and mark the house on a digital map
-
Enter household and family information
-
Generate a unique Self-Enumeration ID (SE ID)
-
Share the SE ID with enumerators during verification
Mascots and Public Outreach
To promote awareness, the government has introduced two official mascots—‘Pragati’ and ‘Vikas’—to guide citizens and encourage participation.
Phased Rollout
The first phase includes:
-
Group 1 (April 1–15): Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Sikkim, Lakshadweep, Odisha, Mizoram
-
Group 2 (April 5–19): Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
Enumerators will subsequently conduct physical verification in each region.
Optional but Encouraged
Officials clarified that self-enumeration is optional, and citizens who do not opt for the online process will still be covered through traditional door-to-door surveys.
Data Privacy Assurance
The government has assured that all collected data will remain completely confidential and secure, addressing concerns around digital data handling.
Toward a Digital Census
Authorities said the initiative is expected to:
-
Improve accuracy of data collection
-
Reduce time and logistical challenges
-
Enable faster processing for policy planning
Census 2027 marks a significant step toward a technology-driven governance system, with citizens playing a direct role in shaping the country’s development data.
-OdishaAge
