Census 2027 to be India’s first digital census: Nagaland Director | MorungExpress

Director of Census Operations, Nagaland, Dr. Zasekuolie Chusi, IAS, presents a bouquet to Chief Secretary, Nagaland, Sentiyanger Imchen, IAS, during a courtesy call at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat on August 7.

Kohima, August 10 (MExN): The Director of Census Operations, Nagaland, Dr. Zasekuolie Chusi, IAS, along with officers from the Directorate, called on Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen, IAS, at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat on Thursday to brief him on the upcoming Census-2027 and seek his support for its smooth conduct.

While congratulating the Chief Secretary on his promotion to the top bureaucratic post in the State, Dr. Chusi appealed for “all necessary assistance and guidance during the forthcoming Census-2027.”

During the meeting, the Director informed that Census-2027 will be the 16th in the series and the eighth since Independence. It will be conducted in two phases – the first phase, known as the House Listing Operation, will be carried out between April and September 2026 and is normally completed within 30 days. The second phase, called the Population Enumeration, will take place in February 2027 throughout the country, except in snow-bound areas.

Dr. Chusi highlighted that Census-2027 will be the first digital census in India, with enumerators using mobile phones to collect data during fieldwork. A provision for “Self-Enumeration” by residents will also be introduced for the first time. He further informed that all jurisdictional changes will be frozen from January 1, 2026, meaning the census will be undertaken based on the jurisdiction existing as on December 31, 2025.

Although census is a Union subject, its operations are executed by state machinery, with Deputy Commissioners acting as Principal Census Officers and Administrative Officers serving as Charge Officers at the district level. Supervisors and enumerators will be appointed from the teaching community, he said.

Unlike previous censuses, where enumerators were required to draw free-hand notional maps of their assigned areas, Census-2027 will utilise geo-referenced digital layout maps, and all buildings and structures will be geo-tagged.

The Director also informed the Chief Secretary that a pre-test is planned in the coming months in one district covering both rural and urban areas. “This will be a dress rehearsal for the actual census and will incorporate all aspects of the operation, namely, appointment of census officials, training, field work, payment of honorarium and so on,” he said. A district with difficult accessibility and shadow areas in network coverage is likely to be chosen for this pre-test.

A brief PowerPoint presentation on the census process, preparedness, and timelines was also made by Assistant Director Mhathung Rangthang.
 

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