Uttar Pradesh Prepares for Digital Census 2027
Uttar Pradesh's Digital Census Initiative
The state of Uttar Pradesh is set to embark on a significant digital census, as announced by Chief Census Officer, IAS Sheetal Verma, during a recent press conference. This will be the 16th census of the country and the 8th since independence, marking a historic moment as it will be conducted entirely in a digital format.
Census Process Divided into Two Phases
IAS Sheetal Verma clarified that the census will be executed in two main phases. The first phase will commence with the listing of houses, incorporating a 'self-enumeration' option available from May 7 to May 21, 2026. Following this, field staff will conduct house counts from May 22 to June 30, 2026.
Actual Population Count Scheduled for February 2027
After gathering housing data, the actual population count will take place in February 2027 as part of the second phase. Sheetal Verma mentioned that a workforce of 550,000 personnel will be deployed for this extensive task, all of whom will receive specialized training. Eight national trainers have been selected to ensure the process remains transparent and accurate.
Emphasis on Technology and Security Protocols
This census will leverage technology extensively, allowing citizens to enter their information digitally for the first time since the census began in 1872. However, for security reasons, defense areas will not be included in the first phase, but they will be counted in the second phase. The status of revenue villages as 'habited' or 'uninhabited' will also be determined based on this data. By May 10, 2026, most preparations at the state level will be completed, accompanied by a comprehensive awareness campaign.