The Census 2027 drive in India has now entered the intensive operational phase, with fresh field surveys underway in many states and Union Territories as authorities implement a more extensive digital approach to the national population count.
Authorities commenced a house-to-house verification exercise in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Meghalaya and within the Municipal Corporation area of Delhi, where enumerators have been gathering housing conditions, household amenities and assets using mobile-based applications.
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This census being conducted is more tech-friendly compared to the previous surveys, as, unlike earlier times, it is taking place in phases wherein citizens have been asked to complete self-enumeration using the census website before the field survey commences.
From Sunday, residents of Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Puducherry became eligible for submitting their census data online, which is currently open till May 31, and physical verification work in all these regions is scheduled from June 1.
Public response to the online procedure has been substantial as officials reported over 1.44 crore families in 25 states and Union Territories completing their self-enumeration so far.
Residents of Uttar Pradesh can complete self-enumeration using the website till May 21, as operations there opened much earlier. Field operations will start in Uttar Pradesh later in the month.
Meanwhile, house-listing activities are underway in many states, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Telangana and Uttarakhand.
Authorities further clarified that the first phase of census activities has already been completed in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha and Sikkim, in addition to the regions of New Delhi Municipal Corporation and Delhi Cantonment.
The current stage will witness a survey comprising 33 questions relating to house members, structure of the house, availability of certain amenities and possessions. The details furnished will help in implementing the various welfare schemes and infrastructure development programs of the government.
The government has assured citizens that the information that will be collected throughout the entire exercise will remain confidential, and the same shall not be used for any other purpose apart from the compilation of statistical data. Residents who have completed the online survey are requested to carry their Self Enumeration ID during the verification visit and give it to the enumerator.