2027 Census: Assurance of Data Confidentiality and New Self-Enumeration Process
Census Data Privacy and New Initiatives
New Delhi, March 30: The Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner has guaranteed that all personal information gathered during the upcoming 2027 Census will be kept strictly confidential and will not be utilized as evidence or to access benefits from any government program.
During a press briefing on Monday, ahead of the initial phase of the nation’s 16th Census, Registrar General Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan announced that the process is scheduled to commence in April across selected states.
Stressing the importance of data privacy, he noted that individual responses are safeguarded under Section 15 of the Census Act.
“All personal data collected during this exercise is confidential. It cannot be disclosed under the Right to Information Act, utilized as evidence in legal proceedings, or shared with any entity, whether governmental or private,” he stated, emphasizing that only aggregated statistical data would be utilized for analysis and reporting.
Addressing concerns regarding caste data, Narayan mentioned that such information will be gathered during the second phase of the Census, with the questionnaire being finalized after thorough consultations.
He alleviated fears about potential data misuse, asserting that individual responses cannot be leveraged for benefits under any scheme.
In a notable change, the commissioner revealed the introduction of self-enumeration for the first time, enabling citizens to submit their information digitally within a 15-day window before the houselisting phase, as designated by states and Union Territories.
“Previously, data was collected on physical paper, which delayed the digitization process. Now, we will receive digital data from the outset, facilitating quicker processing. Several datasets are anticipated to be released as early as 2027,” he explained.
Narayan clarified that self-enumeration will only be accessible to residents within India and not to those residing abroad. He also confirmed that no documentation will be required from individuals during the Census.
The Census will be conducted using a mobile application, complemented by a web-based portal for oversight and management, while block mapping will be executed through a specialized web-mapping system.
Emphasizing security protocols, Narayan stated that Census data centers have been classified as Critical Information Infrastructure to ensure data protection.
He also clarified that no decisions have been made regarding updates to the National Population Register (NPR) and that it is not connected to the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision exercise.