New Delhi, July 9: India will carry out its first fully digital census in two phases beginning April 2026, with data expected to be made available significantly earlier than in previous exercises, the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGI) said on Monday.
In a post on social media platform X, the RGI said the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) will commence in April 2026, followed by the Population Enumeration (PE) phase in February 2027. For the first time, technology will be used end-to-end to collect and transmit data electronically to central servers, enabling faster data processing and release.
“The Census 2027 will be conducted digitally using mobile applications in English, Hindi, and regional languages,” the RGI said, adding that enumerators and supervisors will use their own mobile devices for data collection.
The Census will also introduce a self-enumeration option through a dedicated web portal, allowing residents to provide information online during both phases. States and Union Territories have been asked to appoint nodal officers to facilitate the process.
The RGI noted that the digital approach will significantly reduce the delay in data availability. In previous censuses, primary data typically took two to three years to be published.
The Census will include questions on housing and household conditions, including details such as building materials, access to water, sanitation, cooking fuel, electronic goods, and mobile numbers. It will also enumerate the caste of household members, a key inclusion in the upcoming exercise.
According to the Constitution, the first Census conducted after 2026 will serve as the basis for redrawing parliamentary constituencies. The next general elections are scheduled for 2029.
A three-tier training system will be implemented to prepare nearly 3.4 million field staff. National Trainers will train Master Trainers, who in turn will train Field Trainers responsible for educating enumerators and supervisors.
The RGI has also launched a publicity campaign to encourage nationwide participation and ensure accurate and timely data collection. A Gazette notification regarding Census 2027 was issued on June 16, 2025, with States and UTs directed to republish it and freeze administrative boundaries by January 1, 2026. No changes to boundaries will be permitted until March 31, 2027.
“The forthcoming Census will be inclusive, participatory and transparent, with a focus on authentic and timely data,” the RGI said.
