Chhattisgarh has taken a pioneering step by officially commencing preparations for the 2027 Census, which will mark India's first-ever fully digital population count. The state-level census coordination committee (SLCCC) held its inaugural meeting in Raipur, setting the stage for this historic exercise.
Key Dates and Phases of the Digital Census
Chief Secretary Vikas Sheel, who chaired the meeting, outlined the proposed timeline. The first phase, involving house-listing and housing census, is scheduled to be conducted between April 1 and September 30 of this year. During this six-month window, each specific area will be covered over a concentrated 30-day period.
The second and crucial phase, the population enumeration, will be carried out simultaneously across the entire nation in February 2027. In light of this, the Chief Secretary has directed the school education department to frame the 2026-27 academic calendar with the census schedule in mind. This ensures that schools, teachers, and students can provide their full cooperation to the massive operation.
Technology-Driven and Citizen-Centric Approach
State Census Director Kartikeya Goyal confirmed the groundbreaking digital nature of the 2027 count. Data will be collected primarily through a dedicated mobile application, moving away from traditional paper schedules. The entire process, from field-level data gathering to monitoring and management, will be tracked via a central web portal for greater efficiency and oversight.
A major innovation this time is the introduction of self-enumeration. This feature will allow citizens to directly fill in their own details online, making the process significantly more user-friendly and reducing the burden on enumerators.
Massive Scale and Preparatory Work
Given the enormity of the task, officials estimate that Chhattisgarh alone will require approximately 63,000 enumerators and supervisors, in addition to a large contingent of administrative staff. To ensure a smooth rollout, preparatory activities are already underway.
A pre-test or trial of the first-phase operations was successfully conducted in selected areas between November 10 and 30, 2025. The trial covered chosen villages in Kukdur tehsil (Kabirdham district), parts of Mahasamund district, and a ward within the Raipur Municipal Corporation.
Foundation for Future Planning
Chief Secretary Sheel emphasized the critical importance of the census for the state's future. "The 2027 census is the foundation for future policies, schemes and allocation of resources for Chhattisgarh," he stated. He stressed that the digital format necessitates timely and appropriate training for all officials and field staff involved.
All state departments have been instructed to treat the census as a shared responsibility and work in a coordinated, mission-mode manner. The Home Department will act as the nodal agency, coordinating between the Centre, the Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, the state census directorate, and various line departments to ensure flawless execution of this landmark national exercise.
