India is expanding its digital footprint with the launch of Census 2027, India's comprehensive Digital Population survey. The new launch will allow people to apply from home and offer 16 languages to facilitate residents entering household details.
The 2027 Census will be held in two phases. Phase I will deal with household data. The self-enumeration process will save time and improve census accuracy, and Phase II will focus on population data.
What is a Census?
A census is an official process of systematically collecting, recording, and analysing information about a country, region, or community's population at a specific point in time. It is one of the most important tools for governments and organisations to understand people's demographic, social, and economic characteristics. Under the Census Act of 1948, India will collect population details every 10 years.
What is self-enumeration?
Self-enumeration is a process in which citizens themselves fill out their census information online or via a digital portal, rather than waiting for government enumerators to visit their homes. It's essentially a "do-it-yourself" approach to census data collection.
Phase I: Household listings
This phase started on April 1, 2026 and runs through April-September 2026 in a staggered schedule across states.
It is a fully digitalised phase in which, for the first time, people can enter their own details using mobile phones.
People need to answer 33 questions about housing type, drinking water, toilets, electricity, cooking fuel, internet access, and assets such as vehicles, TVs, and computers.
It includes the use of mobile applications, GPS or digital mapping, and a secure online portal for self‑submission.
Phase II: Population listings
The second phase of the 2027 census is expected to take place in February 2027 across India, except in snowy regions such as Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. For those areas, it will take place in September 2026.
It is also mostly collected through digital tools, and enumerators won't use paper forms.
Individual particulars, including caste, religion, education, language, disability, occupation and fertility details for married women.
Step-by-step guidelines for the self-enumeration process:
Visit the official Self-Enumeration Portal at https://se.census.gov.in/
Complete selecting the state and clearing the captcha
Enter the required details, such as the name of the head of household, mobile number, and email.
Verify with the OTP sent to your given mobile number/email
Choose the preferred language
fill out the census and submit
Next, you will receive an authentic 11-digit self-enumeration ID by SMS and EMail ( the ID will start with H)
Save the ID and share it with the enumerator when they visit the house for verification.
Self-Enumeration Phase I will be open for 15 days until the day before the enumerators' verification visit. According to the provided schedule, the dates and respective states are as follows.
April 1-15, 2026 - Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, Sikkim, Delhi (NDMC and Cantt. Board)
April 5-19, 2026 - Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu
April 10-24, 2026 - Uttarakhand
April 16-20, 2026- Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh
April 17-May 1, 2026 - Bihar
April 26-May 10, 2026 - Telangana
April 30-May 14, 2026 - Punjab
May 1-15, 2026- Delhi (MCD), Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Jharkhand
May 7-21, 2026 - Uttar Pradesh
May 17-31, 2026 -Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Puducherry
June 1-15, 2026 -Himachal Pradesh
June 16-30, 2026 - Kerala, Nagaland
July 17-31, 2026 - Tamil Nadu, Tripura
August 2-16, 2026 -Assam
August 17-31, 2026 - Manipur
To be announced - West Bengal
