Director of Census Operations and Director of Citizen Registration for Nagaland, Dr Kenei Miachieo on Wednesday said that preparations for Census 2027 are already underway in the state and added that as India progresses towards Viksit Bharat 2047, the data collected through the census would play a vital role in planning and development across various sectors.

Addressing media persons at Kohima Press Club, he informed that the census is conducted under the Census Act, 1948, a Central subject, and is carried out jointly by the Central and State Governments. At the state level, a Census Coordination Committee headed by the Chief Secretary has been constituted, while the Home Commissioner serves as the State Nodal Officer for Nagaland.

Dr Miachieo said the first phase of the census, known as the House Listing Operation, would be conducted in Nagaland from July 1 to July 30, while the second phase is expected to take place in February 2027. He noted that nationally, the Government of India has fixed the House Listing Operation period from April 1 to September 30, 2026.

He further stated that Census 2027 would be India’s 16th Census and the eighth since Independence. A major feature of this census, he said, is its transition to a digital format.

Explaining the digital initiatives, Dr Miachieo said households would be able to self-enumerate through the Census Portal. Enumerators would collect data using mobile applications, while data processing and tabulation would be carried out digitally. Census maps would be generated using geo-referenced satellite imagery and integrated into mobile applications. In addition, a dedicated Census Management and Monitoring System has been established to enable real-time monitoring by officials at both the state and national levels.

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He described these measures as a significant transformation in the conduct of Census 2027.

Speaking on the preparations, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kelevituo Nisa said extensive administrative mobilisation is underway to ensure complete coverage and accuracy of the census. He informed that key administrative and field personnel have been trained, while further training programmes are in progress.

Providing details of the census administrative structure, he said Nagaland comprises 17 districts, 118 sub-divisions, 39 statutory towns, five census towns and 1,606 villages. Functionaries appointed for the exercise include Principal Census Officers, District Census Officers, Charge Officers, Master Trainers, Field Trainers, Supervisors and Enumerators.

He said Deputy Commissioners have been designated as Principal Census Officers, while Additional Deputy Commissioners at district headquarters will serve as District Census Officers. A total of 157 Charge Officers, comprising ADCs, SDOs and EACs, have been appointed. Six Master Trainers will train 130 Field Trainers.

For the statewide exercise, 1,060 Supervisors and 5,118 Enumerators, including active and reserve personnel, have been appointed. Altogether, 6,461 personnel have been mobilised to ensure the successful conduct of the census.

Nisa appealed to the public to extend full cooperation to enumerators during their visits, stating that the success of the census would directly contribute to better planning and development for the state and its people.