Narendra Modi, Amit Shah complete self-enumeration on first day of Census 2027

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah completed their self-enumeration on Wednesday as part of the first phase of Census 2027.

"Completed my self-enumeration, today marks the beginning of the first phase of Census 2027, relating to house listing and housing operations,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

Modi said that this census is the first time data collection is being done through digital means.

‘First digital population data collection’

“This census is the first time data collection is being done through digital means. It also empowers the people of India to self-enumerate their household details,” he said.

The Prime Minister also urged the people of India to self-enumerate their household details themselves and participate in the Census.

“I appeal to the people of India to self-enumerate their household details themselves and participate in the Census process," he said.

National duty: Amit Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah, who also completed the self-enumeration exercise, urged people to fully cooperate in this national duty.

"Soon, the census team will visit your home as well. You are requested to extend full cooperation in this national duty by providing the required information," he wrote on X.

Census 2027 first phase

The first phase of Census 2027 started on Wednesday in what will be the largest such exercise in the world.

Census 2027, the first digital population count in Indian history, is being conducted in two phases: the first stage is known as house listing and housing census, and the second stage is the population census.

The housing listing and housing census beginning April 16 will systematically list all structures, houses and households throughout the country to provide a sound framework for the conduct of the population enumeration.

Census 2027 second phase

During the housing listing operations, the enumerators will physically visit each house and building and pose 33 questions to the citizens regarding basic facilities in their houses, information about the head of the household, such as the name and sex, and the ownership status, among others.

55,000 households complete self-enumeration

According to officials, about 55,000 households from eight states and Union territories availed the self-enumeration facility on the first day.

A specially developed portal for self-enumeration has been opened for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Sikkim, Odisha, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, and areas under the NDMC and the Cantonment Board of the national capital, where citizens can themselves answer the listed questions for the housing listing operation digitally and generate a unique ID, saving time during physical verification.

How to complete self-enumeration

"The Self-Enumeration exercise is a secure, web-based facility available in 16 regional languages. For the first time, respondents can fill in their details online at their convenience before the enumerator's visit," the statement issued on Wednesday said.

"To participate in Self-Enumeration, respondents can log in to the portal se.census.gov.in using their mobile number and basic credentials. Upon successful submission, a unique Self-Enumeration ID (SE ID) is generated, which will be shared with the enumerator during the subsequent field visit for confirmation," it said.

During the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) phase, information on the condition of housing, household amenities and assets possessed will be collected.

"A total of 33 questions for Phase I have been notified in January 2026 to capture these critical indicators, which serve as the foundation for evidence-based planning, policy formulation, and targeted welfare interventions," it said.

The HLO phase began across the country on April 1 and will conclude on September 30.