Chhattisgarh has officially commenced its groundwork for the monumental 2027 national census, which is poised to be India's inaugural completely digital population count. The formal process was initiated with the first meeting of the State Level Census Coordination Committee (SLCCC) convened in Raipur on Tuesday.
Phases and Timeline for the Digital Count
State Chief Secretary Vikas Sheel outlined the proposed schedule for the massive exercise. The first phase, involving house-listing and the housing census, is slated to be conducted from April 1 to September 30, 2026. Each specific area will be covered within a 30-day window during this period.
The crucial second phase, the population enumeration, will be carried out simultaneously across the nation in February 2027. In light of this schedule, Sheel directed the school education department to align the 2026–27 academic calendar with the census timeline. This coordination is intended to ensure that schools, teachers, and students can provide their full support to the enumerators.
A Pioneering Digital and Citizen-Centric Approach
State Census Director Kartikeya Goyal emphasized the historic shift in methodology. The 2027 Census will be India's first digital census, moving away from traditional paper forms. Data collection will be executed through a dedicated mobile application, with the entire process—from field operations to monitoring—being managed via a central web portal.
A significant and citizen-friendly feature introduced this time is the provision for self-enumeration. This will allow individuals to log in and fill out their family's details online, promising greater efficiency and accuracy. Given the scale, Goyal indicated that Chhattisgarh alone will require approximately 63,000 enumerators and supervisors, besides a substantial number of administrative staff.
Preparatory Trials and Mission-Mode Execution
Preparatory activities are already underway. A pre-test for the first phase was successfully conducted in selected areas of the state between November 10 and 30, 2025. The trial run covered chosen villages in Kukdur tehsil of Kabirdham district, parts of Mahasamund district, and a ward within the Raipur Municipal Corporation.
Chief Secretary Sheel termed the upcoming census "critical for the state's future planning" and the foundation for future policies, schemes, and resource allocation. He stressed the need for timely and appropriate training for all officials to handle the digital transition effectively.
All state departments have been instructed to treat the census as a shared responsibility and work in a coordinated, mission-mode manner. The Home Department will act as the nodal agency, facilitating coordination between the Centre, the Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, the state census directorate, and various line departments to ensure seamless execution.
