Syllabus: GS-II & V: Govt Intervention

Why in the news?

Assam will host the pre-test for the country’s first fully digital census in November 2025, with field trials and an online self-enumeration trial in selected districts — a rehearsal for the nationwide Census of India, 2027.

Assam’s pre-test details (what will happen)

• Dates and places: Self-enumeration pre-test from 1–7 November 2025, and house-listing and housing field pre-test from 10–30 November 2025 in Dibrugarh, West Karbi Anglong, and Hailakandi. 
  • Local district officers have been appointed as principal census officers to help the exercise.
• Why a pre-test? A pre-test checks the digital tools, training, internet connectivity, question formats, and community response so that the national exercise runs smoothly. 
  • This includes a trial of self-enumeration, where residents enter their own household data on a secure online portal.

What is new in the 2027 census (important features explained)

• Fully digital enumeration: For the first time, all phases — data collection, entry, verification, and monitoring — will be done on secure digital platforms using mobile applications, replacing paper schedules. 
  • This promises faster processing, reduced manual errors, and improved data accuracy.
• Two phases:
  • House-listing and housing (phase one) – to map every household and dwelling unit.
  • Population enumeration (phase two) – to count individuals and record demographic details. 
  • The national census will use March 1, 2027, as the main reference date in most parts of India.
• Caste enumeration: The 2027 exercise will collect caste information for all individuals — a type of data not compiled comprehensively since 1931, marking a significant milestone in India’s demographic documentation.

Legal and institutional framework

• The Census of India is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, but it derives its constitutional legitimacy from Article 246 and the 7th Schedule (Union List, Entry 69), which places “Census” under the exclusive legislative power of Parliament.
• Census Act, 1948: Provides the legal foundation for census operations in India. It empowers the government to collect data and protect individual confidentiality. 
• Census Rules, 1990: These rules were framed under the Census Act, 1948, to lay down the administrative and procedural framework for conducting the census.
• Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India: Heads the entire operation, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, and supervises the Directors of Census Operations in each state and union territory.
  

A brief history of the Census in India

• The first complete census in India was conducted in 1881 under the British administration under W.C. Plowden.
  • Since then, it has been carried out every 10 years, making it one of the world’s most consistent demographic exercises.
• The first census of independent India was held in 1951, which provided vital data for national planning and socio-economic policy formation.
• The Census of India, 2011, was the 15th national census and the 7th after independence.
• The upcoming Census of India, 2027, will be the 16th census and first-ever fully digital census.

Why Assam was chosen and why it matters for governance

• Assam’s pilot will test digital enumeration in a mix of urban wards and rural villages, including diverse and hard-to-reach populations.
• Successful trials will guide future training, device provisioning, and multilingual adaptation for the rest of the country.
• The exercise is also a test of network readiness, data security, and citizen acceptance of digital self-reporting — critical components before the full-scale rollout in 2026–27.

Key terms explained

• Pre-test: Small-scale rehearsal of census methods and technology.
• Self-enumeration: Households entering their own data online.
• House-listing: Registry of all residential structures and amenities.
• Population enumeration: Counting of persons and their attributes.
• Census Act, 1948: Legal statute governing the census process.
• Registrar General and Census Commissioner: National head of census operations.

Exam Hook: Key Take-aways

• The 2027 census will be India’s first fully digital census conducted in two phases — house-listing and population enumeration.
• Assam’s November 2025 pre-test is the first practical trial to validate technology, field operations, and data systems before national rollout.
• The census is constitutionally significant as it provides the backbone for planning, resource allocation, representation, and socio-economic policy.

Short Mains Question:
“Examine the advantages and challenges of conducting a fully digital census in India. How can the government ensure data security, inclusion, and accuracy in the 2027 Census?”

One-line wrap:
Assam’s digital census pre-test marks the beginning of a new era in India’s demographic journey — merging technology with transparency for a more efficient and inclusive count.

SOURCE