India launches fully digital Census 2027, leaders Modi, Murmu, Shah, and Birla lead by example

India’s 16th national census officially began on April 1, 2026, in a historic shift to a fully digital format , delayed from 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Leading the initiative, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla completed his digital self-enumeration at his official residence in New Delhi, setting an example for citizens nationwide.

Other prominent leaders, including Chief Justice Surya Kant, President Droupadi Murmu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi , also completed self-enumeration using the secure online portal , with verification through mobile OTPs taking just 15-20 minutes. Households enter their details first , followed by enumerator visits , ensuring a smooth and accurate collection of data.

Shri Birla noted that the census is more than a headcount, it is the foundation for informed governance and public welfare . “For the first time, citizens can record their household information directly through a process that is secure, accurate, and user-friendly ,” he said, highlighting India’s technological progress .

The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Shri Mritunjay Kumar Narayan , oversaw the self-enumeration process. Phase 1, covering houselisting , will continue through September 2026, followed by population counting in February 2027 , promising faster, precise data for planning across 1.4 billion people .

Reaffirming the vision of ‘Jan Ganana se Jan Kalyan’ (Census for Public Welfare), Shri Birla urged citizens to actively participate, record their details, and encourage others, contributing to a ‘Sashakt and Samriddh Bharat’ (Strong and Prosperous India).