Chhattisgarh Launches Online Self-Enumeration for Census 2027, Pushes Digital Participation

April 17, 2026 : Chhattisgarh has formally rolled out the ‘Online Self-Enumeration’ phase of Census 2027, with Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Vidhan Sabha Speaker Raman Singh jointly inaugurating the process at the Chief Minister’s residence. The move marks the state’s alignment with the Centre’s broader push to digitise the decadal census exercise, making it more transparent, efficient, and citizen-driven.

By entering their own household details on the official portal, both leaders signalled the government’s intent to promote a paperless census system. The initiative is part of a nationwide rollout led by the Ministry of Home Affairs to modernise data collection and improve accuracy through direct public participation.

Calling Census 2027 a mission of national importance, Sai said the exercise goes beyond a routine population count and serves as a foundation for building a developed India and a developed Chhattisgarh. He highlighted that the introduction of digital self-enumeration allows citizens to submit their data independently, ensuring convenience as well as privacy. Urging widespread participation, he appealed to residents to complete the process during the 15-day window from April 16 to April 30, stressing that reliable data is essential for ensuring welfare schemes reach intended beneficiaries.

Under this phase, households can register using a mobile number and complete a 33-point questionnaire online. Once submitted, the system generates a unique 11-digit Self-Enumeration ID, which must be shared with field enumerators during verification visits. Officials say this hybrid model is designed to improve data accuracy while reducing manual errors and delays.

The Census 2027 exercise will be conducted in two phases. The first, focusing on houselisting and housing conditions, is underway across states from April to September 2026, collecting information on amenities and living standards. The second phase, Population Enumeration, is scheduled for February 2027. In a significant policy shift, the upcoming census will also include a caste-based count for the first time since 1931, along with data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.