The long-awaited Census 2027 is set to commence in Maharashtra on Friday, marking the country's first digital census with data collection via smartphones. The self-enumeration of household data, including assets and condition, will be a key feature.
Phase Details and Timeline
The first phase, focusing on house-listing or gathering details of households, will run from May 1 to June 14. The second phase, covering population count and composition, will begin in February next year. Self-enumeration is scheduled from May 1 to May 15.
Self-Enumeration Process
Citizens are encouraged to register their household details on se.census.gov.in. Any household member can perform self-enumeration, which takes approximately 15-20 minutes. Upon completion, they will receive a self-enumeration ID (SE ID) via registered email or mobile number. No documents need to be uploaded. The SE ID must be shared during the physical visit of the enumerator, who will upload it after confirmation. All census-related communication via SMS or OTP will use the keyword RGICEN.
Physical Visits by Enumerators
Regardless of whether a household has participated in self-enumeration, census staff will visit individual homes between May 16 and June 14 to collect household data. Chief Principal Census Officer (Maharashtra) Nirupama Dange stated, "Participation in the census is not mandatory, but we strongly urge the public to take part in large numbers. The data collected is secure." She emphasized that census information is confidential and cannot be used in police cases or sought under the RTI Act.
Questions and Data Collection
The house-listing phase includes 33 questions covering aspects such as predominant wall and roof material, sex of the household head, SC/ST status, number of rooms, number of married couples, main sources of drinking water, lighting, and fuel, LPG connection availability, and access to TV or the internet. A new question this year asks about the main cereal consumed in the household.
Caste Data and Slum Coverage
When asked about inclusion of caste details, Dange said, "This relates to the population census, which will begin in February 2027. The guidelines for that are yet to be sent by the Centre." Officials confirmed that arrangements have been made to include slum households in the data. Around 2.6 lakh field functionaries, mainly teachers due to their high public credibility, will be deployed for the house-listing exercise.
