Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Meghalaya has officially launched field operations for Phase I of Census 2027, becoming one of the first states in the Northeast to integrate into the central government's digital enumeration initiative. This houselisting and housing census exercise is currently running concurrently in Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Similar door-to-door surveys are also underway in Arunachal Pradesh, marking a significant push to digitize the national count.
The current operation involves enumerators visiting residences equipped with a dedicated mobile application to collect data on household assets, amenities, and living conditions. This digital transition aims to refine evidence-based planning for development and welfare programs nationwide. The questionnaire includes 33 notified questions designed to provide comprehensive demographic and housing insights. Authorities have noted that Mizoram and Sikkim have already successfully completed their houselisting phases, which took place between April 16 and May 15.
To modernize the process, the Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced a self-enumeration portal, allowing citizens to provide data online. To date, over 1.44 crore households across 25 states and Union Territories have utilized this facility. Residents who choose self-enumeration are advised to keep their unique generated IDs ready for when enumerators arrive to verify the data in person. For regions such as Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Puducherry, the online portal remains open until May 31, while Uttar Pradesh residents have until May 21.
Government officials have reiterated that all data collected under the Census Act of 1948 remains strictly confidential and will be utilized exclusively for statistical analysis and policy formulation. By prioritizing early participation in remote and geographically complex regions, the government hopes to ensure the new digital model is fully tested and effective as the census expands across the rest of the country.
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