Census 2027: First phase to start from April 16 in Sikkim

ISABELLA GURUNG

Citizens can also use self-enumeration facility

GANGTOK,: The State government on Wednesday informed that the first phase of Census 2027, pertaining to Housing Listing and Housing Census, will be conducted from April 16 to May 15, marking the beginning of a major nationwide exercise after a gap of 16 years.

Addressing a press conference at Tashiling Secretariat here, Census Operations Sikkim director Karma R Bonpo informed that the Census will be conducted in two phases.

The first phase, beginning in April, will focus on housing enumeration, where the enumerators will visit households to collect details on housing conditions and amenities such as drinking water, electricity, LPG connections. The second phase, involving population enumeration, is scheduled for February 2027.

In a significant shift, Census 2027 will be conducted entirely through digital means. Enumerators will use a dedicated mobile app to collect and upload data, ensuring faster and more efficient processing.

A key innovation this year is the introduction of a self-enumeration facility. Citizens can log on to the official portal (sc.census.gov.in) and submit their household details between April 1 and April 15, 2026. Upon completion, a 15-digit self-enumeration ID will be generated, allowing enumerators to verify the data instead of collecting it afresh.

The Census Operations director urged citizens to take advantage of the self-enumeration facility, particularly in urban areas where residents may not be available during enumeration visits due to work commitments.

Highlighting the importance of the census, Bonpo noted that the data collected plays a crucial role in policy formulation, implementation of government schemes, and allocation of resources. Census figures are also used for delimitation of constituencies and reservation of seats in Parliament, state assemblies, and local bodies.

The exercise will be conducted under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948, and the Census Rules, 1990, ensuring confidentiality and legal protection of data. Officials also assured that data privacy will be maintained in line with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act.

Addressing concerns raised during the briefing, officials clarified that issues such as migration and potential double counting will be addressed during the second phase of population enumeration. The first phase will strictly focus on housing data.

The census operation in Sikkim will be carried out through a structured administrative framework. District collectors will serve as principal census officers, supported by additional district collectors, subdivision magistrates as charge officers, and around 2,459 enumerators and supervisors. Urban areas will be managed by municipal commissioners and executive officers.

Home secretary Tenzing T. Kaleon, who is also the State nodal officer for Census 2027, said preparations are underway following a high-level coordination meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary. Emphasizing the need for accurate and reliable data, the official called on all citizens to participate actively.

“We must ensure that no one is left out. Accurate census data is essential for the development of the State and the country,” he said.

Both officials have appealed to the public for full cooperation to ensure the success of the exercise.

Around 2,459 enumerators and supervisors will be working on field, with many others working behind the scenes.