Odisha Pioneers Digital Census Pre-Test for India’s 2027 Count
The Directorate of Census Operations in Odisha has launched the pre-test phase of the House Listing and Housing Census, marking the first step toward India’s decennial Census 2027.
Conducted under the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, the exercise is being carried out in collaboration with the Odisha state government.
The pre-test, running from November 10 to November 30, 2025, covers selected rural and urban areas: 20 villages in Tentulikhunti Tahasil of Nabarangpur district, 44 villages in Thakurmunda Tahasil of Mayurbhanj district, Ward No. 22 of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, and Ward No. 17 of Cuttack Municipal Corporation.
Enumerators are visiting households to assign unique house numbers and collect data on housing conditions, amenities, and family-owned assets.
For the first time, the census process is being digitised, with innovations such as a Self-Enumeration Portal allowing residents to submit household details online, and a Digital Layout Mapping App to geo-tag houses for faster processing.
Officials emphasise that this pilot project will refine census methodologies, ensuring inclusivity, efficiency, and accuracy.
The data collected will form the foundation for national planning and resource allocation, making public cooperation vital to its success.
