Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently conducted a review of the preparations for the upcoming Census 2025, emphasizing the use of digital methodologies, ensuring stringent data security, and the large-scale deployment of personnel for the survey. The review meeting, held on Sunday, June 15, 2025, included discussions with the Union Home Secretary, the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RG&CCI), and other senior officials.
A key announcement following the review is the scheduled publication of the official notification to conduct the Census in the official gazette on Monday, June 16, 2025. This marks a significant step forward in the Census process, which had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has clarified that budget constraints will not impede the Census, ensuring that adequate funds are available for the exercise.
The Census 2025 will be the 16th Census since its commencement and the 8th after India's independence. It will be conducted in two phases. The first phase, known as the Houselisting Operation (HLO), will focus on collecting data regarding housing conditions, available assets, and amenities for each household. The second phase, the Population Enumeration (PE), will gather demographic, socio-economic, cultural, and other relevant details of every individual in each household. Notably, the upcoming Census will also include caste enumeration.
A significant aspect of the Census 2025 is the adoption of digital means for data collection. Enumerators will utilize mobile applications to directly collect and submit data, with provisions for paper schedules in areas with connectivity issues. Furthermore, the government will provide an online self-enumeration option for citizens to participate in both phases of the Census. The MHA has stressed that stringent data security measures will be implemented to protect data during collection, transmission, and storage.
To carry out the extensive survey, approximately 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors, along with around 1.3 lakh Census functionaries, will be deployed. The involvement of primary school teachers as enumerators highlights their crucial role in the Census process. The government recognizes that conducting the Census immediately after the pandemic could have significantly disrupted primary education, which informed the decision to postpone it.
Amidst these preparations, the MHA has addressed concerns raised by southern states regarding the delimitation exercise. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured that these concerns will be considered and discussed with all stakeholders at the appropriate time.
The Census 2025 reference date will be October 1, 2026, for snow-bound areas like Ladakh, and March 1, 2027, for the rest of the country. This comprehensive data collection effort is crucial for informed policy decisions, resource allocation, and overall development planning.
