Gujarat to Begin Digital Census on June 1 with Self-Enumeration Option

A gazette notification issued on May 5 outlines the nationwide framework for census operations and specifies state-wise implementation timelines.

While houselisting operations will be conducted across the country between April 1 and September 30 this year, Gujarat has been assigned a revised schedule within this period.

As part of the revised plan, the state will observe a 15-day self-enumeration period immediately before the commencement of field operations, allowing households to submit census data digitally prior to door-to-door verification.

This will be followed by a 30-day house-listing exercise to be conducted by enumerators across Gujarat.

Officials confirmed that the census will be carried out in two phases, with the second phase -- Population Enumeration -- scheduled for February 2027 across the country.

The entire exercise will be conducted in digital mode through a dedicated census portal and mobile applications, marking India's first fully digital census.

According to officials, the revised timetable was finalised following administrative adjustments linked to local body elections held last month, which required rescheduling of field-level government responsibilities to ensure staff availability for census work.

The programme had earlier been proposed for an earlier timeframe but was deferred because of election-related administrative duties.

The Gujarat exercise will form part of the 16th Census of India since its inception in 1872 and the eighth since Independence.

During the house-listing phase, data will be collected on housing conditions, household amenities and assets, including details related to dwelling structures, sanitation facilities, road connectivity and other basic infrastructure indicators.

The subsequent Population Enumeration phase in 2027 will capture demographic, socio-economic, educational, migration and occupational data.

The state government has initiated preparatory measures, including identification of house-listing blocks, preparation of notional maps, compilation of charge registers and structured training programmes for enumerators and supervisors.

Jurisdictional changes up to December 31, 2025, will be incorporated to ensure administrative accuracy.

The notification also underscores strict data quality protocols, validation mechanisms and confidentiality provisions under the Act.

Public awareness campaigns are expected to be undertaken ahead of both the self-enumeration phase and field operations to maximise participation.

Officials further stated that census data would serve as a key statistical foundation for assessing household amenities, socio-economic conditions and demographic trends, and would form the basis for planning and governance at both the state and national levels.

- IANS