Gurgaon has officially kicked off preparations for its upcoming census, marking a historic shift as the exercise will be conducted entirely through digital means for the first time. The data collection will leverage a dedicated mobile application, and citizens will have the option to self-enumerate via an online portal, aiming for greater speed and accuracy.
Two-Phase Digital Rollout and Key Dates
The census operation will be executed in two distinct phases. The first phase, house listing, is scheduled for May 2026. This will be followed by the main population enumeration phase from February 9 to February 28, 2027. A brief revision period is set for March 1 to March 5, 2027, to ensure all data is correct and up-to-date. This census is significant as the last one was conducted back in 2011.
Administrative Machinery and Digital Focus
The preparations were charted in a meeting chaired by Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Paramjeet Chahal at the mini secretariat. For Gurgaon district, Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar will serve as the Principal Census Officer. Municipal commissioners will act as census officers in their areas, while City Magistrate Sapna Yadav has been appointed as the nodal officer. Tehsildars and executive officers will oversee the process at ground level.
SDM Chahal emphasized the digital transformation, stating, "All work will be done through digital means. Enumerators will record information through a mobile app, making the work faster, transparent and accurate." He added that the self-enumeration option for residents is expected to reduce the workload on field staff and improve data accuracy. Information from the first phase will be automatically linked to the second to prevent duplication.
Identifying Special Areas and Ensuring Coverage
During the meeting, departments were directed to identify and prepare reports on slum areas and other special zones within the district. This step is crucial for ensuring comprehensive coverage and that no segment of the population is missed during the digital enumeration drive. The move to a tech-driven process represents a major step in modernizing India's decadal census exercise, with Gurgaon serving as a key implementation zone.
