New Delhi: The Government of India has deputed senior IAS officers as Directors of Census Operations and Citizen Registration to spearhead upcoming census preparations. These officers will lead state and UT-level training workshops designed to strengthen digital inclusivity and streamline large-scale data collection.
IAS Officers to Lead Census Preparations
The appointed IAS officers will oversee training modules for supervisors and nearly 34 lakh enumerators. Each enumerator will use a dedicated mobile application installed on personal smartphones for data collection. The workshops focus on multilingual interfaces, assisted-enumeration protocols, and device-readiness to reduce exclusion risks while enabling faster, app-based data capture with server-side validation.
Key Postings Announced
Recent postings reflect the government’s emphasis on readiness and inclusivity. Amit Sharma (AGMUT, 2012) has been assigned Mizoram. Sufiyah Faruqui Wali (Madhya Pradesh, 2009) will take charge in Madhya Pradesh starting October 1, 2025. Purva Garg (AGMUT, 2015) will hold additional charge for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. All three officers will front-load workshops and coordinate field operations to ensure a smooth digital rollout.
Standardised Training for Nationwide Rollout
This IAS-led framework is designed to standardise training on accessibility, grievance redressal, and app workflows. Enumerators will be trained to handle offline data capture, web-portal backfills, and real-time error prompts, reducing the need for repeat visits. The system integrates geotagging, live dashboards, and helplines to monitor progress and ensure uniform quality across states and UTs.
Towards a Digitally Inclusive Census
The new architecture combines self-enumeration, multilingual data entry, and digitisation at source. It aims to accelerate census publication timelines while addressing connectivity and language challenges through structured IAS-led training and oversight.
