MAHARASHTRA Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday formally inaugurated the Census-2027 self-enumeration campaign in Mumbai, marking the launch of the first phase of the nationwide population count being conducted on behalf of the Government of India. The inauguration ceremony took place at Varsha, the official residence of the Chief Minister in Mumbai, where he completed his self-enumeration as part of the digital rollout of the exercise. The event was attended by the CM’s wife, Amruta Fadnavis, his daughter Divija Fadnavis, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Western Suburbs) Vipin Sharma, Principal Census Officer of Maharashtra Nirupama J Dange, Deputy Census Registrar AN Rajeev, Deputy Registrar Yashwant Patil, and Census Officer of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Santosh Gaikwad, along with other officials associated with the exercise. In a post in X, the BMC mentioned that the Census-2027, being conducted under the framework of the Government of India, will begin with the self-enumeration phase starting May 1, 2026, thereby allowing citizens to submit their details digitally ahead of door-to-door enumeration in subsequent phases. Census 2027 will be the 16th in the series of Indian censuses and the 8th since independence.

 

This will be the largest census exercise in the world and marks a major step forward with digital integration, strengthened data security, and streamlining processes, reinforcing evidence-based policymaking. Self-enumeration under Census 2027 began in the national capital on Friday, with many residents, including Lt Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, completing the exercise on day one. The Chief Minister, after completing online self-enumeration, said the process is simple and completely safe. Sandhu, in a post on X, said that the exercise officially began across all Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) wards and urged the residents to take part in the self-enumeration process and support the census. The first phase of Census 2027 began in Jharkhand on Friday with the self-enumeration exercise that will allow people to provide their household details digitally, officials said. Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar urged people to participate in the exercise and provide accurate information. “I appeal to the people of the State to ensure their active participation in the self-enumeration process for the Census, which began on May 1 and wish for the success of Census 2027 in the State,” he said. Meghalaya Governor CH Vijayashankar on Friday became the first to enrol as the state began its push towards a fully digital Census, and urged citizens to participate in the process.

 

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is set to enrol later in the day, they said. The Governor completed his enrolment in the presence of senior officials, marking the launch of the digital Census initiative aimed at ensuring seamless data collection and wider participation across the State. Urging citizens to take part, Vijayashankar said the transition to a digital platform would make the process more accessible, efficient and transparent. “A digital Census is a step forward in making governance more responsive and data-driven. I urge all citizens to actively participate in this initiative for the benefit of the state and the nation,” he said. He added that accurate and comprehensive data is crucial for planning and implementation of welfare schemes and development programmes. “The success of the Census depends on the cooperation of the people. Wider participation will help in building a reliable database that supports inclusive growth,” the Governor said. Officials said the initiative is part of preparations for Census 2027 and is aimed at simplifying enumeration while improving the accuracy and reliability of data collection. The digital format is expected to reduce manual errors, ensure real-time data capture and make the process more convenient for citizens, they added.