Census 2027: India’s First Fully Digital Census Plan
Why in the news
Details of India’s fully digital Census 2027 have been laid out, covering its cost, schedule, staffing and technology.
Key facts
- Budget: ₹14,618.95 crore, overseen by the Registrar General of India (RGI) under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Staff: nearly 34 lakh enumerators using their own smartphones (Android and iOS), with support for English, Hindi and regional languages.
- Self-enumeration is possible through a web portal.
- Buildings get unique latitude-longitude geo-tags, and Digital Layout Mapping is integrated with GIS.
- A dedicated website allows real-time monitoring, and data goes directly to a central server.
| Phase | Timing |
|---|---|
| Phase 1: Houselisting | April to September 2026 |
| Phase 2: Population enumeration (most states) | February 2027 |
| Phase 2: Ladakh, J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand | September 2026 |
About the digital shift
Paper-based data, where used, is keyed in through a web portal so records are not duplicated. In the 2011 Socio-Economic Caste Census, electronic devices were supplied by Bharat Electronics Limited. The 2027 exercise moves a step further by letting enumerators use their own devices and by offering self-enumeration.
Exam angle
- Remember the two phases: houselisting and population enumeration.
- The census is run by the Registrar General of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Budget figure ₹14,618.95 crore is a likely numeric question.
- Note the earlier schedule for hill regions in September 2026.