Census-2027 schedule announced; self-enumeration from April 16
Director of Census Operations J. Nivas on Wednesday announced the schedule for Census-2027, describing it as the beginning of the country’s largest administrative and statistical exercise.
Speaking to the media, he said the self-enumeration facility will be available from April 16 to April 30, 2026, followed by the house-listing and housing census from May 1 to May 30, 2026. He was addressing reporters at the Secretariat.
Calling it a key milestone, Mr. Nivas said Census-2027 will be India’s first fully digital census with an option for self-enumeration.
“The self-enumeration facility is a secure, web-based platform available in 16 regional languages, including Telugu. Respondents can fill in their details online at their convenience before the enumerator’s visit,” he said.
He added that enumerators will continue door-to-door visits across all designated blocks, as in previous censuses, with self-enumeration provided as an additional facility.
For self-enumeration, respondents must log in to se.census.gov.in using their mobile number and basic credentials. Once submitted, a unique Self-Enumeration ID (SEID) will be generated, which must be shared with enumerators during field verification.
During the house-listing and housing census phase, detailed data on housing conditions, amenities, and household assets will be collected.
Mr. Nivas said the 33 questions released by the Government of India in January 2026 and republished by the State government in February 2026 will be used to capture key indicators for policy formulation, planning, and welfare delivery.
He said the Census continues to be a crucial tool for development planning over the next decade, and the data collected under the Census Act of 1948 remains strictly confidential.
“The digital systems for Census-2027 are equipped with robust encryption and multi-factor authentication to ensure data security,” he said, urging citizens to participate either through self-enumeration or by cooperating with field staff.