Overview
- India began Phase I on Wednesday, April 1, launching its first fully digital census with an online self-enumeration option.
- About 55,000 households in eight states and Union territories used the portal on day one in the initial rollout.
- The count returns to nationwide caste data collection for the first time since 1931 as part of a two-phase design that schedules population enumeration in early 2027.
- The portal runs in 16 languages and gives each household a Self-Enumeration ID that an enumerator will check during a required home visit.
- Door-to-door houselisting in each state runs for 30 days, starting April 16 in the first areas, and asks 33 questions on housing, amenities and assets to guide welfare planning.