Digital Census: The notification for the census has finally been published, and with it, the process of counting the country’s population has begun. This time, the census will be conducted entirely digitally, completed in two main phases: House Listing and Population Enumeration. The most significant aspect of this process is that ordinary citizens will no longer have to wait for a government enumerator; they can directly upload their census data from home. For this, the Registrar General of India (RGI) will launch a dedicated portal or app.
Details of the New Digital Process
According to the gazette notification issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, this new system will allow citizens to easily register the names and other detailed information of their family members. Not only that, if a family member passes away or someone changes their address, that information can also be easily removed from the list. Here are some key aspects of this self-upload process:
- Easy and Convenient: Information can be uploaded at one’s own convenience without waiting for a government official.
- Data Verification: After citizens upload the information, government officials will verify it to ensure there are no errors.
- Time-Saving: According to the government, this new method will save time in a massive undertaking like the census. Although about 3.4 million enumerators and 130,000 officials are involved in this work, the active participation of the general public will make the process smoother.
Reference Date and Other Important Information
As per the notification, March 1, 2027, has been set as the ‘reference’ date for the census. This means the population of India will be counted as of that date. However, the reference date is different for the snow-bound regions of four states – Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. For these four regions, the reference date for the census has been set as October 1, 2026.
Additionally, there is a possibility of including the caste information of all Indian citizens in this census, which was mentioned in a statement issued by the Press Information Bureau on June 4. Although the gazette notification does not explicitly state anything on this matter, it could be a significant addition. This digital census is not just a modern step; it provides an opportunity for the common people to participate directly in this important national task.
