Census 2027 kicks off: How to do self-enumeration: step-by-step guide

India will conduct its 2027 Census, which will cover the entire country and provide valuable information about its demographics. Within the scope of the 2027 Population Census, the opportunity for self-count is provided, which will start on April 1, 2026.

Census 2027 will be fully digital, and enumerators will record data from home visits on mobile applications.

To ease the process, self-numbering facility is available for citizens to fill in their details as per their convenience.

What is self-numbering?

This is a new web-based facility that allows citizens to provide household information online before an enumerator visits. It is designed to offer flexibility, allowing participants to complete the census schedule at any time in any of the 16 available languages.

Step-by-step guide to self-numbering

To participate in self-enumeration, respondents must follow these steps: self-numbering portal.

• Login: Access the portal and log in using a mobile phone number.

• Identify location: Use the map tool provided to determine your exact location.

• Fill in details: Fill in household information and census schedule.

• Submit: Submit information online.

• Get Your Own Numbering ID: Once submitted, the system creates a unique ID for each participant.

• Share ID: When the census taker comes to visit while going door to door, give them your ID.

• Approval: The enumerator will approve the data and it will be officially included in the Census.

Self-numbering dates

The self-numbering dates are not the same for every State and Union Territory. Here’s how to check your dates for self-numbering:

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, Sikkim, Delhi (NDMC and Cantt. Board): 1-15 April 2026

• Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu: 5-19 April 2026

• Uttarakhand: 10-24 April 2026

• Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh: 16-20 April 2026

• Bihar: 17 April-1 May 2026

• Telangana: 26 April-10 May 2026

• Punjab: 30 April-14 May 2026

• Delhi (MCD), Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Jharkhand: 1-15 May 2026

• Uttar Pradesh: 7-21 May 2026

• Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Puducherry: 17-31 May 2026

• Himachal Pradesh: 1-15 June 2026

• Kerala, Nagaland: 16-30 June 2026

• Tamil Nadu, Tripura: 17-31 July 2026

• Assam: 2-16 August 2026

• Manipur: 17-31 August 2026

• West Bengal: To be decided

What is a census?

Census is a massive administrative and statistical exercise that collects, compiles and analyzes demographic, social and economic data on the entire population of the country. The Census of India is one of the largest such exercises in the world and is managed by the Office of the Registrar General and the Census Commissioner under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Is the census done every five years?

Unlike elections, the census is not held every five years. Census in India is conducted every 10 years.

Why wasn’t there a census in 2021?

The 2021 census was not conducted as planned primarily due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected field activities and data collection in the country.

How many questions will be asked in the 2027 Census?

The first phase of the 2027 Census will include 33 questions, ranging from the gender of the head of the household to the type of grain consumed and the number of couples usually living in the household. The second phase, in which the castes will be numbered, will be held in February 2027. Questions have not yet been reported for this stage.

Also Read | What are the 33 questions in the first phase of the 2027 Census?

When will the 2027 census data be announced?

Most of the Census data sets are expected to be published in 2027. This is because the census activity is digital, unlike its predecessors where data was collected on paper and scanned for later processing. The use of mobile applications will significantly speed up the process and provide almost real-time processing of information.