Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 05 November 2025
The next Census of India will be conducted in 2027, marking a historic milestone as the first fully digital Census in the country. The initial phase—Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO)—is scheduled to commence on April 1, 2026, setting the stage for a complete digital transformation in the way national population data is collected and managed.
As part of the preparations, the Directorate of Census Operations, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has begun a testing exercise to assess the efficacy of the digital ecosystem developed for Census 2027. The test run is being conducted in selected villages of Diglipur Tehsil (North & Middle Andaman), Nancowry Tehsil (Nicobar District), and one ward under the Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council (SVPMC).
During the exercise, various digital tools—including mobile applications for mapping and data collection, a monitoring portal for census activities, and a self-enumeration portal—will be put to the test to ensure their functionality and user readiness.
Before the commencement of fieldwork, enumerators and supervisors are being imparted a three-day intensive training by officers from the Directorate of Census Operations, A&N Islands, between November 1 and 6, 2025.
The training program began in Nancowry on November 1, under the supervision of Mr. Santosh Prakash, Assistant Commissioner, and Mr. Mohammed Yunus M., Block Development Officer. It was inaugurated in Diglipur and SVPMC on November 3, with Mr. Abhishek Gulia, Assistant Commissioner, and Mr. Biswanath Sen, Deputy Tehsildar, Diglipur, monitoring the sessions in Diglipur.
Ms. Purva Garg, IAS, Director of Census Operations, A&N Islands, visited the training facility at Sri Vijaya Puram and emphasized the importance of hands-on practice for the participants. Mr. Azharuddin Zahiruddin Quazi, IAS, Secretary (SVPMC), also attended the session in his capacity as Town Census Officer.
The digital Census 2027 aims to enhance accuracy, transparency, and efficiency in data collection and management, ushering in a new era of evidence-based policy planning across the nation.
