Thu Jul 03 17:39:58 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text and a rewritten version as a news article:
**Summary:**
Preparations for the 2027 Indian Census are underway. A two-day conference of Directors of Census Operations (DCOs) kicked off in Delhi, outlining the processes, timelines, and key features of the upcoming census. The first phase, House Listing Operations and Housing Schedule (HLO), is expected to begin April 1, 2026, preceded by a pre-test exercise. The 2027 Census will be the first digital census and also the first to enumerate caste in independent India, which will happen in the main phase in February 2027. A portal will be launched for real-time monitoring of fieldwork. The Constitutional mandate states that this census could be used to redraw Lok Sabha constituencies after 2026. Roughly 3.4 million enumerators and supervisors will be involved in the effort.
**News Article:**
**India Gears Up for Landmark 2027 Census: First Digital Count to Include Caste Enumeration**
**New Delhi – July 3, 2025** – Preparations are officially underway for the 2027 Indian Census, a landmark undertaking that will be the nation’s first fully digital census and the first to enumerate caste since independence. A two-day conference of Directors of Census Operations (DCOs) from across India commenced today in Delhi, marking the official kick-off for the massive data-gathering exercise.
The conference provided DCOs with crucial information on the processes and timelines for the upcoming census. The initial phase, the House Listing Operations and Housing Schedule (HLO), is slated to begin on April 1, 2026. Prior to this, a pre-test exercise involving tentative questions will be conducted.
“This census will be a significant step forward,” stated a senior government official. “The shift to digital data collection will ensure greater efficiency and accuracy.”
A key highlight of the 2027 Census is the inclusion of caste enumeration in the second, main phase, which will take place in February 2027. This move is expected to provide crucial data for policy decisions related to social justice and equity.
To enhance transparency and monitoring, a dedicated portal will be launched, allowing DCOs and other officials to track progress in real-time, including the finalization of administrative units, preparation of code directories, and the training of enumerators.
Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Registrar General of India (RGI) and Census Commissioner of India Mritunjay Kumar Narayan addressed the conference, emphasizing the importance of accurate and comprehensive data collection. Narayan previously requested the State Chief Secretaries to make any changes to the boundaries of administrative units be effected by December 31, 2025 as the first phase of HLO begins April 1, 2026.
The Constitutional mandate dictates that the data from the 2027 Census could be used as the basis to redraw Lok Sabha constituencies after 2026, potentially impacting the next General Election expected in 2029.
Approximately 3.4 million enumerators and supervisors, primarily drawn from state government officials, will be deployed for the census. The exercise aims to provide a comprehensive snapshot of India’s demographic and socio-economic landscape, informing policy decisions for years to come.
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