NEW DELHI, Dec 9: The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced a major technological shift for India’s next population count, confirming that Census 2027 will be conducted entirely through digital modes, including mobile applications and a dedicated web portal for self-enumeration.
In a statement to the Lok Sabha on December 9, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that enumerators will collect information using mobile apps, while citizens will also have the option to enter their details directly on a web portal. The entire process, he added, will be managed and monitored centrally through a dedicated census portal.
Rai was responding to an unstarred question raised by MP Sanatan Pandey. He clarified that the census will continue to follow the standard principle of collecting information “at the place where individuals are found during the entire period of enumeration.”
The Centre also confirmed that migration data will receive special emphasis in Census 2027. Details to be captured include each person’s place of birth, place of last residence, duration of stay at the current address, and the reason for migration. Officials said that this will provide crucial insights into population movement across the country.
Before enumeration begins, the census questionnaire will be notified in the Official Gazette, following established procedure.
The ministry said that the shift to a fully digital census marks a significant departure from traditional paper-based enumeration, with expectations of improved data accuracy, faster processing, and easier nationwide participation.
