State govt announces two-phase census beginning July 17, 2026, including self-enumeration, housing census, and population enumeration through February 2027. Officials review preparations to ensure accurate demographic data collection for national planning and development policies.
The state government has initiated preparations for the upcoming national census, with the enumeration exercise scheduled to begin on July 17, 2026, as part of a nationwide programme led by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Officials confirmed on Friday that the census in the state will be conducted in two phases, ensuring systematic data collection on housing and population.
To review the progress and preparedness for the exercise, a meeting of the State Level Census Coordination Committee (SLCCC) was held at the state secretariat. The meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary J K Sinha and attended by senior officials from multiple government departments responsible for implementing the large-scale enumeration process.
Among those present at the meeting were Finance Secretary Apurba Roy, Urban Development Secretary Milind Ramteke, Panchayat Secretary Abhishek Singh, Higher Education Secretary Ravel Hemendra Kumar, Social Welfare Department Special Secretary and Director Tapan Kumar Das, and Information and Cultural Affairs Director Bimbisar Bhattacharjee. Other officials from key departments also participated in the meeting to coordinate planning and logistics.
During the meeting, Planning and Statistics Secretary and State Census Nodal Officer L T Darlong highlighted the significance of the census exercise, describing it as a vital tool for policy formulation, resource allocation, and developmental planning. He briefed participants on the structure and timeline of the programme, emphasizing that accurate data collection is essential for effective governance and long-term development strategies.
Census Director Ratan Biswas presented a detailed schedule and operational framework outlining how the census will be conducted across the state. According to the plan, the self-enumeration process will run from July 17 to July 31, 2026, allowing residents to submit their information digitally before the field operations begin.
The first phase of the census, known as the House Listing and Housing Census, will be conducted from August 1 to August 30, 2026. During this phase, enumerators will gather detailed information about housing conditions, household amenities, and infrastructure. The data collected will help the government understand living conditions and plan future development initiatives.
The second phase, which focuses on population enumeration, will take place from February 9 to February 28, 2027. In this stage, enumerators will collect demographic details such as age, gender, occupation, and educational status of residents across the state. The population data forms the backbone of government planning in sectors like education, healthcare, employment, and social welfare.
Chief Secretary J K Sinha directed officials to treat the census exercise with utmost priority, stressing the importance of completing all preparatory work within the stipulated timeline. He also assured that the state administration would provide full logistical and administrative support to ensure the smooth conduct of the exercise.
District Magistrates and Additional District Magistrates from various districts participated in the meeting through virtual platforms and briefed the committee on ongoing preparations in their respective jurisdictions. Officials reported that groundwork such as training enumerators, preparing digital infrastructure, and public awareness campaigns is already underway.
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The census exercise is considered one of the largest administrative operations undertaken by the government. Officials believe that the upcoming enumeration will provide critical demographic insights that will shape policymaking and development planning for years to come.
