India Census after 15 years; enumeration in Kerala from June 16

NEW DELHI: After a gap of 15 years, the Census process is set to begin again in India. As the first phase, house listing will start on April 1. In Kerala, the process will begin in June. The Census, which was scheduled for 2021, was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The population enumeration will take place in February next year, and a caste census will also be conducted along with it. After completing all procedures, the new Census data will come into effect across the country from March 1, 2027.

This will be India’s first digital Census. Data collection will be done using smartphones. People can also submit their household details on their own through a special online portal. In Kerala, self-enumeration can be done from June 16 to June 30. From July 1 to July 30, enumerators will visit houses directly to collect details.

The first phase of house listing will begin in April in several other states as well. In places like Delhi, Karnataka, and Lakshadweep, self-enumeration will be held from April 1 to April 15, and house listing will take place from April 16 to May 15. In Tamil Nadu, self-enumeration will be conducted for 15 days starting July 17, followed by house listing from August 1 to August 30.

How to submit information
People can log in to the portal using the mobile number of the head of the family. They will need to answer 33 questions. After submitting the details, a Self Enumerator ID (SE ID) will be generated, which must be shared with the enumerator who visits the house for verification.

First phase
The first phase will include questions about the house, such as the type of roof (concrete or tile), flooring (mosaic or marble), food habits, vehicles, number of family members, and details of the head of the household. Information can be submitted in 16 Indian languages, including English and Malayalam.

Second phase
The second phase will collect information on population, social status, education, migration, and caste.

Live-in relationships
The Census department has clarified that couples living together without marriage will be treated as married if they consider their relationship stable. In the first phase, such couples should be included in the count of married members in the household.

16th Census

• The 2027 Census will be the 16th Census in India and the eighth after Independence. The last Census was conducted in 2011.
• The reference date for the Census will be March 1, 2027. For snow-bound regions like Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, the reference date will be October 1, 2026.