New Delhi: Ahead of the upcoming Population Census 2027, the Central Government has asked all States and Union Territories to maintain status quo on jurisdictional boundaries till March 31, 2027, in order to ensure the smooth and accurate conduct of the nationwide census exercise.
Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan issued the directive on Friday while addressing a high-level conference convened to review preparedness for Census 2027.
Directive Issued Following Announcement of Census 2027 First Phase
The instruction comes in the wake of the announcement that the first phase of Census 2027 will commence from April 1, 2026. With preparations gaining momentum, the Central Government has intensified efforts to strengthen administrative coordination, workforce readiness, and digital infrastructure to facilitate seamless execution of the census across the country.
Home Secretary Addresses Conference on Census Preparedness
The directive was issued during a conference attended by:
- Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories
- State Census Nodal Officers
- Senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
- Directors of Census Operations
The meeting was held to comprehensively review the preparedness, planning, and timelines for the upcoming census.
Emphasis on No Boundary Changes Till March 31, 2027
Addressing the gathering, Home Secretary Govind Mohan clearly instructed that no jurisdictional changes, including alterations in districts, sub-divisions, tehsils, police station limits, municipal boundaries, or administrative units, should be undertaken until March 31, 2027.
The move is aimed at avoiding discrepancies in data collection and ensuring uniformity and accuracy in population enumeration across the country.
Focus on Training, Notifications and Digital Tools
During the meeting, the Home Secretary stressed several key preparatory measures, including:
- Timely appointment and training of census functionaries
- Re-publication of relevant census-related notifications
- Effective deployment of digital tools, especially the self-enumeration facility
- Strengthening IT systems for real-time monitoring and data accuracy
He highlighted that the use of technology would play a crucial role in making Census 2027 more efficient, transparent, and citizen-friendly.
Importance of Public Awareness and Communication Strategy
Mr. Mohan also underlined the need for a robust publicity and communication strategy to:
- Build public awareness about Census 2027
- Foster trust and cooperation among citizens
- Encourage maximum participation, particularly in digital self-enumeration
He noted that effective communication would be essential to the overall success of the census exercise.
Senior Census Officials Attend the Conference
The conference was attended by several senior officials associated with census operations, including:
- Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RG&CCI)
- Sunil Kumar, Additional Registrar General
- Sanjeev Kumar, Additional Registrar General
- Biswajit Das, Deputy Director General
Other senior officers from the Census and MHA establishments
States Asked to Ensure Regular Monitoring and Reviews
The Home Secretary sought full cooperation from State and UT administrations, urging them to undertake regular monitoring and review of census-related activities to ensure:
- Timely execution
- Accuracy of data
- Adherence to prescribed timelines
He emphasized that coordinated efforts between the Centre and States would be critical for the successful and error-free completion of Census 2027.
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