The Registrar General and Census Commissioner (RG & CCI) kicked off a four-day training session on October 10, 2025, aimed at preparing Lead Trainers for the pre-test exercise related to the upcoming Population Census 2027. This intensive program is taking place at Janganana Bhawan, New Delhi, as part of preparations for the first phase of the census, which will include Houselisting and Housing Census.
During the inauguration, RG & CCI Mritunjay Kumar Narayan welcomed participants from various states, emphasizing the critical role Lead Trainers will play in facilitating training across the nation. He highlighted that this is a historic milestone for India, as the census will be conducted digitally for the first time and will include a caste enumeration, a significant step for independent India.
The Hindu reported on August 28 that the pre-test will run throughout October and November, serving as a trial to assess the efficiency of the entire census process. The census will be conducted in two main phases: Houselisting and Housing Schedule (HLO) and Population Enumeration. Scheduled from April 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027, this will be the first census since 2011, as the 2021 exercise was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pre-test will rigorously evaluate various aspects, including the proposed questions, data collection methods, training effectiveness, logistical preparations, printing processes, and data quality assessment. It aims to identify potential challenges that may arise in the field, ensuring a smoother operation for the actual census.
The last census pre-test was conducted in 2019, covering over 2.6 million individuals across 76 districts in 36 states and Union Territories. That exercise involved around 6,000 enumerators and 1,100 supervisors sourced from state governments. This substantial groundwork sets the stage for the current training initiative, reinforcing the importance of accurate data collection and analysis for policy formulation and resource allocation in the future.
As preparations continue, the emphasis remains on ensuring high-quality outcomes for the digital census, with RG & CCI Narayan noted for his commitment to enhancing the efficiency of this landmark exercise. The focus on innovative methods and digital tools showcases India’s progression in leveraging technology for governance and social planning.
As the nation gears up for the census, the spotlight is on the effectiveness and readiness of its manpower-essentially the Lead Trainers-tasked with guiding enumeration teams. This critical phase is designed not only to smooth the pathway for gathering accurate demographic data but also to strengthen the foundation for a more informed and equitable future.
The culmination of this training will mark a significant advancement in India’s census methodology, a vital process that impacts millions and shapes national policy. As India prepares for this landmark exercise, the importance of accuracy and readiness cannot be overstated, laying the groundwork for the future of data-driven decision-making in the country.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/training-for-census-2027-pre-test-begins-in-delhi/article70149448.ece
Category : India
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Publish Date: 2025-10-10 22:41:00
