Poonam Nath

Meghalaya Opens Census 2027 Online Self-Entry, Deadline announced till May 15

Digital Desk: Self-enumeration for Census 2027 in Meghalaya commenced on May 1, marking a crucial step in India's 16th national census and the eighth since Independence. A press briefing in Shillong, organized by the Press Information Bureau and the Directorate of Census Operations, highlighted the significance of this census, emphasizing a thorough digital approach for data handling through mobile applications and the Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS) portal.

The Census Operations Director, Biswajit Pegu, announced that residents can self-report their household information online from May 1 to May 15, with census workers later verifying these details during field visits. The census process is divided into two phases: the first involves self-enumeration and house listing operations (HLO), with the latter phase scheduled to take place from May 16 to June 14. During HLO, officials will gather data on housing conditions, assets, and essential facilities using a structured 33-question format.

The critical second phase, population enumeration, will occur in February 2027, with March 1 set as the reference date. Pegu noted that the digital system aims to enhance data accuracy through pre-loaded forms, accelerating data processing, and ensuring a rapid release of results.

Significant precautions are in place to safeguard personal census data, which will remain confidential; only aggregate data will be released for planning and policy purposes. Additionally, mobile numbers collected during the census will be used exclusively for verification and communication purposes.

Approximately 9,000 personnel, encompassing enumerators and supervisors, will be engaged across Meghalaya, with a stringent multi-tier supervision system to ensure data accuracy. The census will encompass all regular and institutional households, excluding specific groups such as foreign nationals and diplomatic personnel during the house listing phase.

Furthermore, a toll-free helpline (1855) has been established to assist citizens with queries related to the census, providing guidance on procedures and updates throughout both phases of the operation.