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India to Conduct First Fully Digital Census from April 2026

  • 31 Mar 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.