Centre Notifies Two-Phase Schedule for Upcoming Digital Census

The Central Government has officially notified the timeline for India’s next population census, to be conducted in two phases. 

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs notification, in Phase 1, i.e., the Houselisting Operation (HLO), data on housing conditions, amenities, and assets will be collected.

Subsequently, in the second phase i.e., Population Enumeration (PE), the demographic, socio-economic, cultural, and other details of every person in each household will be collected. The census will also include caste data.

The exercise was earlier delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is expected to be conducted digitally for the first time using mobile applications.