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Maharashtra Census Self-Enumeration Begins May 1: Key Details

The self-enumeration phase of India's first fully digital Census begins in Maharashtra on May 1, 2026. Citizens can submit their details online via the official website until May 15, after which enumerators will conduct door-to-door visits. A unique 11-digit ID starting with 'H' will be generated for each household, which must be preserved for verification. The state has deployed 2.64 lakh field personnel and frozen administrative boundaries to ensure accurate data collection.

Key Points: Maharashtra Census Self-Enumeration Starts May 1

  • Self-enumeration phase from May 1 to May 15, 2026
  • Use official site se.census.gov.in, avoid fake SMS
  • 11-digit unique ID starting with 'H' generated after submission
  • 2.64 lakh field personnel deployed for door-to-door verification
2 min read

Self-enumeration phase of Census to begin in Maharashtra from May 1

Maharashtra's first digital Census begins May 1. Learn how to self-enumerate online, get the 11-digit ID, and avoid fake SMS. Key dates & 2.64 lakh staff deployed.

"Citizens opting for self-enumeration have been advised to use only the official website https://se.census.gov.in and avoid responding to any SMS that does not contain the keyword RGICEN - Officials"

Mumbai, April 30

The self-enumeration phase of the Census will commence in Maharashtra from May 1, marking the start of India's first fully digital population count exercise, officials said on Thursday.

At a press conference, Nirupama Dange, Chief Principal Census Officer and Director of Census Operations for Maharashtra, said that the exercise is part of a broader shift towards a digital governance system, with mobile applications and an online portal being deployed to ensure real-time data collection, improved accuracy, and efficient monitoring.

Citizens opting for self-enumeration have been advised to use only the official website https://se.census.gov.in and avoid responding to any SMS that does not contain the keyword "RGICEN", officials said at a media interaction held on the eve of the exercise.

The self-enumeration process will be conducted from May 1 to May 15, 2026, followed by the house listing and housing Census from May 16 to June 14, 2026, during which enumerators will carry out door-to-door visits, preferably in the morning or evening hours, covering around eight to ten households on a daily basis.

Officials said that once individuals complete their online submission, an 11-digit unique identification number beginning with the letter 'H' will be generated, which must be carefully preserved and shared with enumerators during their visits for verification purposes.

To facilitate the Census exercise, the state has frozen the jurisdictional boundaries of districts, talukas, cities, and villages from January 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, with a gazette notification issued on July 15, 2025, formalising the decision.

Another notification to operationalise the Census activities was released on February 26, 2026, laying the groundwork for the implementation of the exercise. A workforce of around 2.64 lakh field personnel, including enumerators and supervisors along with 10 per cent reserve staff, will be deployed after undergoing structured training, officials said.

They added that a Census Monitoring and Management System portal will be used for large-scale supervision, coordination, and data handling during the exercise.

Enumeration will be carried out across both slum and non-slum areas using pre-defined maps, while migratory populations will be counted in their place of work under the de facto method, as per Census norms.

According to officials, Census entries are made at the household level and do not serve as legal documents or proof of identity. The follow-up phase involving ward-wise population counting will be conducted next year as part of the overall Census process.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
Good initiative, but I'm concerned about data privacy. All that personal information in one digital system - how do we ensure it's not misused? Also, 2.64 lakh field personnel is massive, hope they're properly trained to handle sensitive data. 🤔
V
Vikram M
As someone who works in data analytics, this shift to digital is long overdue. Real-time data collection means better policy decisions. The 11-digit unique ID is clever - makes tracking easier. Just hope the infrastructure in rural Maharashtra can handle it. Be careful of fake SMS scams as mentioned.
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see the de facto method for counting migratory populations. Working in Mumbai's construction sector, I've seen how many workers are missed in traditional counts. This might finally give us accurate numbers for urban planning. Good step. 👏
R
Rohit P
One of my main concerns is the timing - May 1 to 15. Many people travel during summer vacations, especially in urban areas. What if someone submits from a different location? Also, the boundaries freeze from 2025 to 2027 - that's a long time. Will this affect new housing colonies that come up?
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Nisha Z
Important to remember that census data determines everything from parliamentary seats to resource allocation. So please, everyone, participate accurately. Also appreciate that they're training enumerators for slum areas - those communities often get overlooked. Hope the portal has multi-language support. 🙏

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