India&rsquo;s next national Census, scheduled for 2027, will be conducted entirely through digital systems, marking a historic shift in the country&rsquo;s population-counting process. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai informed the Lok Sabha that the government is replacing traditional paper forms with mobile app-based data collection and a self-enumeration option through an official web portal.
Rai stated that the core methodology of the Census remains unchanged. Every individual&rsquo;s details will still be recorded at the location where they are physically present during the enumeration period. The exercise will continue gathering essential migration-related information, including place of birth, last residence, duration of stay at the current address, and reasons for relocation.
Before the fieldwork begins, the Centre will publish the final Census questionnaire in the Official Gazette as part of the standard procedure.
The minister added that the entire 2027 operation will be managed through a dedicated digital platform, enabling end-to-end monitoring, improved accuracy, and reduced administrative load. The adoption of digital tools is expected to streamline data collection and modernise one of India&rsquo;s largest administrative exercises.

Government confirms Census 2027 will rely on mobile apps and a dedicated digital portal

India to Conduct Fully Digital Census 2027

Government confirms Census 2027 will rely on mobile apps and a dedicated digital portal

December 10, 2025 | 14:36 IST