Officials have strongly encouraged residents to complete the self-enumeration process, stating that it takes approximately 20 minutes and significantly improves efficiency. The process is open to all residents, irrespective of whether they are property owners or tenants. According to officials, tenants must register using their own mobile number and provide details of the household where they reside. The administration emphasised that increased participation in self-enumeration will reduce errors and accelerate the overall census process.
While the digital submission is not mandatory, authorities noted that higher participation levels would streamline operations. The integration of features such as geo-tagging of residential units is expected to enhance the accuracy of mapping and improve planning of enumeration blocks. In New Delhi district, the self-enumeration phase has already been completed, and door-to-door visits are currently underway.
The digital process requires residents to register their household by entering the name of the head of the household, which cannot be altered later, along with a unique mobile number. Users must verify their identity through a one-time password and select a preferred language from a list of 16 options, including Hindi, English, Bengali, Tamil, and Urdu. Participants are then required to provide location details such as district, locality, and landmark, and accurately mark their residence on a digital map to assist officials in identifying census blocks.
Residents must complete a detailed questionnaire covering housing conditions, including building identification numbers, construction materials used for floors, walls, and roofs, and the overall condition and usage of the property. Household profiling includes details such as the total number of residents, access to drinking water, availability of electricity, sanitation facilities, wastewater systems, and bathroom access. Additional sections gather information on kitchen facilities, cooking fuel types, ownership of communication devices such as radios, televisions, computers, and mobile phones, as well as vehicle ownership and primary food consumption patterns.
Before final submission, users are required to review all entered data carefully, as no changes are permitted after submission. Upon completion, an 11-digit Self-Enumeration Identification Number beginning with the letter “H” is generated and sent via mobile message or email. Residents must retain this identification number and present it to census officials during subsequent verification visits. If the identification number matches the records, the submitted data will be accepted; otherwise, officials will collect the details again.
The self-enumeration phase will conclude on May 15, after which door-to-door enumeration will be conducted from May 16 to June 14. A toll-free helpline has also been established to assist residents during the process.
The launch of this digital initiative represents a significant shift in census methodology, combining technology with traditional field verification to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and administrative planning for one of the country’s largest data-gathering exercises
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