1st Digital Census in 2027: Amit Sharma calls for citizen involvement
Jammu, Apr 26: Amit Sharma, Chief Principal Census Officer (CPCO) and Director of Census Operations (DCO), Ministry of Home Affairs, on Saturday outlined the roadmap for Census 2027, describing it as a transformative national exercise aimed at strengthening data-driven governance.
Speaking as Chief Guest at a health talk organised by Rotary Club Jammu City in association with Fortis Hospital Gurugram, Sharma said the upcoming Census will be India's first fully digital and paperless enumeration, designed to generate accurate, real-time and granular data for policy planning.
He said the Census in Jammu and Kashmir will be conducted in two phases. The House Listing Operations (HLO) and Housing Census will be carried out from June 1 to June 30, 2026, preceded by a self-enumeration window from May 17 to May 31. The Population Enumeration (PE) phase is scheduled for February 2027, while snow-bound areas will be covered earlier in September 2026.
Elaborating on the digital framework, Sharma said data collection will be conducted through mobile applications with in-built validation checks to ensure accuracy and consistency. He added that citizens will also be able to participate directly through a dedicated self-enumeration portal, making the process more inclusive and transparent.
Highlighting the significance of Census data, Sharma said it forms the backbone of governance and is critical for policy formulation, targeted delivery of welfare schemes and efficient allocation of resources across sectors such as health, education, infrastructure and social development.
He said preparatory work, including freezing of administrative boundaries, development of digital platforms and training of field staff, has already been completed to ensure smooth conduct of the exercise.
On data security, Sharma assured that robust safeguards, including end-to-end encryption, secure transmission protocols and certified data centres designated as critical information infrastructure, have been put in place to ensure confidentiality under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948. He advised citizens not to share sensitive personal information such as bank details, PAN or Aadhaar numbers beyond the prescribed Census questions.
Calling for active public participation, Sharma urged citizens, particularly members of Rotary networks across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, to spread awareness and cooperate with enumerators. "Census 2027 will play a crucial role in shaping India's development trajectory and strengthening evidence-based governance," he said.
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