Census 2027: 12 Lakh Households in 11 States Self-Enumerate as India's First Digital Census Begins
Over 12 lakh (1.2 million) households across 11 states and Union Territories have opted for the self-enumeration facility under Census 2027 — India's first fully digital census.
The initial phase — Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) — began from April 1, 2026, with enumerators using mobile applications to collect data.
For the first time, citizens can fill in their household data through a secure online portal available in 16 languages, generating a unique Self-Enumeration ID to be verified during the enumerator's visit.
States included in the April 16–May 15 HLO phase: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Delhi (NDMC and Cantonment areas), Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, and Sikkim.
The census, last conducted in 2011 (the 2021 Census was indefinitely postponed due to COVID-19), is critical for updating data on population, housing, literacy, and demographics — with direct implications for delimitation, reservation, and welfare scheme delivery.
Census of India: Constitutional and Legal Framework
The Census of India is mandated by the Census Act, 1948, and governed by the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (under the Ministry of Home Affairs) is responsible for conducting the census.
The delay of the Census from 2021 to 2027 is directly linked to the current delimitation debate — the government proposes using 2011 Census data for delimitation rather than waiting for Census 2027, as the latter will not be available for 2-3 more years.
Self-Enumeration and Digital Public Infrastructure
Census 2027's digital-first approach represents a significant modernisation of India's administrative infrastructure. This parallels the broader Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) framework India has developed through Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, and ONDC.
Key Details
- For the first time, India's census will use mobile applications for enumerators instead of paper forms — enabling real-time data transmission, geo-tagging, and centralized monitoring.
- Self-enumeration portal is available in 16 languages; a unique Self-Enumeration ID is generated for each participating household.
- The exercise involves over 3 million enumerators, supervisors, and officials — the world's largest enumeration exercise.
- The House Listing and Housing Census (Phase 1) collects data on household structure, amenities (piped water, electricity, toilets), assets, and sources of income/fuel.
- Population Enumeration (Phase 2) — collects individual-level data on age, sex, religion, literacy, occupation, and migration.
- Caste Census: There is active political demand to include a caste census in the 2027 exercise to update data on OBC population — last done at the national level in 1931 (the Socio-Economic and Caste Census 2011 covered rural areas only, and its caste data was not officially released).
The self-enumeration feature and digital data collection are expected to improve data accuracy and reduce enumerator bias — important given that census data will be used for delimitation, which will reshape political representation for decades.
Census and Delimitation: The Policy Linkage
Census data and delimitation are constitutionally linked: Article 82 mandates readjustment of Lok Sabha seats after each Census, and Article 170 does the same for State Assemblies. Delay in Census directly delays women's reservation activation (per the 106th Amendment) and the delimitation exercise.
The progress of Census 2027 is directly relevant to the delimitation debate — once Census 2027 data is available (likely 2028–29), future delimitation exercises will be based on more current population figures than the proposed 2011 baseline.
- Census Act, 1948 — legal basis for the Census of India; "Census" is Union List Entry 69.
- Census 2027: first fully digital census; Phase 1 (HLO) began April 1, 2026.
- Self-enumeration portal: available in 16 languages; 12 lakh+ households enrolled so far (up from 5.72 lakh as of April 10).
- Over 3 million enumerators will be involved — world's largest enumeration exercise.
- Last Census: 2011 (population: 1.21 billion); 2021 Census indefinitely postponed due to COVID-19.
- Census data used for: delimitation (Articles 82, 170), SC/ST seat reservation, Finance Commission devolution, welfare scheme planning.
- Eight states/UTs in April 16–May 15 HLO phase: A&N Islands, Delhi (NDMC/Cantonment), Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, Sikkim.