India Kicks Off First Phase of Census 2027 with New Digital ‘Self-Enumeration’ Portal
NEW DELHI / BHUBANESWAR (April 1, 2026) — The Government of India has officially launched the first phase of Census 2027, introducing a major digital shift with a new "Self-Enumeration" facility. As the Houselisting and Housing Census begins, citizens in select States and Union Territories—including Odisha, starting today—will have a 15-day window to fill in their census information online before enumerators visit their homes.
Running under the slogan “Our Census, Our Development,” the Ministry of Home Affairs aims to make data collection more accessible, accurate, and time-efficient. To guide citizens through the digital process, the government has introduced two official census mascots, 'Pragati' and 'Vikas'.
How the Self-Enumeration Process Works
The newly launched portal offers a simple, secure, and user-friendly digital facility. Citizens opting for self-enumeration can follow these steps:
Visit the Portal: Go to the official self-enumeration website at se.census.gov.in.
Secure Login: Log in using a mobile number via OTP verification.
Location Details: Select the appropriate State, District, and Local details, and mark the exact house location on the provided Digital Map.
Enter Data: Fill in the required information regarding the house and family members.
Generate SE ID: Upon successful submission, the system will generate a unique Self-Enumeration ID (SE ID).
Final Verification: Citizens must keep this SE ID safe and provide it to the official enumerator when they visit the home. The enumerator will use it to quickly confirm the submitted data.
Rollout Schedule
The first phase is being rolled out in a staggered manner across specific States and Union Territories:
Group 1: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Sikkim, Lakshadweep, Odisha, and Mizoram
Self-Enumeration Window: 1st April – 15th April
Houselisting by Enumerators: 16th April – 15th May
Group 2: Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
Self-Enumeration Window: 5th April – 19th April
Houselisting by Enumerators: 20th April – 19th May
Benefits and Privacy Reassurance
The government highlighted that the self-enumeration route is designed to be time-saving, ensure more accurate information directly from the source, and allow for faster data processing at the national level.
However, officials strongly emphasized that self-enumeration is a "special facility" and entirely optional. Citizens who are unable or prefer not to use the online portal need not worry; an enumerator will still visit their home during the scheduled Houselisting period to record the information manually. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also issued a firm reassurance regarding data privacy, stating that all collected information will remain "completely confidential and secure."
Citizens are encouraged to fulfill their civic responsibility and participate actively in this foundational phase of Census 2027. Further updates and information can be found on the official social media channels via the handle @CensusIndia2027.
