India to Conduct First Fully Digital Census from April 2026

On 30th March 2026, government announced that India will begin its first fully digital Census exercise from April 1, 2026, marking a major transformation in data collection and governance.

Key Points

First Digital Census:
- Data collection through mobile applications.
- Self-enumeration option via online portal (available in 16 languages).
Self-Enumeration Feature:
- Citizens can fill details online and generate a Self-Enumeration ID (SE ID).
- Verified later by enumerators during field visits.
Scale of Exercise:
- World’s largest census exercise.
- Over 3 million enumerators and officials involved.
Legal Framework: Conducted under the Census Act, 1948 and Census Rules, 1990.
Two-Phase Census:
- Phase I (Apr-Sep 2026): Housing and household data.
- Phase II (Feb 2027): Population, socio-economic and caste data.
Reference Dates:
- March 1, 2027 (general).
- October 1, 2026 (snow-bound regions).
Financial Outlay: ₹11,718.24 crore approved.
Digital Infrastructure:
- Mobile apps, self-enumeration portal, real-time dashboards.
- Web-based mapping for census blocks.
Coverage:
- 36 States/UTs.
- ~6.4 lakh villages and thousands of towns.
Significance:
- Improves accuracy, transparency, and timeliness of data.
- Enhances citizen participation.
- Supports better policy-making and development planning.