India kicked off the first phase of its Census 2027 on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, launching the world's largest fully digital population count targeting more than 1.4 billion people. This 16th national census, the eighth since independence, begins with House Listing and Housing Census operations in eight states and union territories, including Delhi's NDMC area, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Mizoram, Odisha, and others.

The initial rollout features 45 days per area, with the first 15 days dedicated exclusively to self-enumeration through a dedicated online portal available in 16 languages. Citizens can log in using their mobile number, submit housing details, and receive a unique Self-Enumeration ID to share with enumerators for verification. No documents are required, and data remains confidential under the Census Act of 1948. Following self-enumeration, over 3 million enumerators, primarily schoolteachers and local officials, will conduct door-to-door visits using a multilingual mobile app that functions offline and supports real-time data upload with built-in error checks.

Phase one includes 33 questions on housing conditions, such as building materials, ownership, sanitation, cooking fuel, assets like smartphones and vehicles, and internet access. It recognizes stable live-in relationships as married unions. The phase will extend across all states and union territories by September 30, 2026, except West Bengal, which is finalizing its schedule.

The second phase, population enumeration, is set for February 2027 with a reference date of March 1, 2027, and earlier in October 2026 for snow-bound areas like Ladakh. It will capture demographics, education, migration, fertility, religion, and caste data for the first time since 1931. Digital collection ensures faster processing, with significant datasets available in 2027, unlike previous paper-based censuses.

Registrar General and Census Commissioner Mritunjay Kumar Narayan emphasized the efficiency: "Collection of data digitally will ensure Census 2027 datasets are out much faster." He appealed for accurate information, noting individual data's strict confidentiality and non-use for schemes or investigations. The exercise spans 36 states and territories, over 7,000 sub-districts, 9,700 towns, and 640,000 villages, with geo-tagging for accuracy.

Delayed from 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this census provides critical data for policy, welfare allocation, and urban-rural planning after 15 years without a full count. Features like mascots Pragati and Vikas promote participation in this transformative effort.