Patna: Bihar is set to conduct its first fully digital census as part of Census 2027, marking a decisive shift away from paper-based enumeration. Chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit said the exercise will be implemented through the Census Monitoring and Management System (CMMS) alongside a dedicated mobile application, enabling real-time data capture and streamlined administration.
The announcement was made at a state-level training conference in Patna, where officials stressed that accurate demographic data is critical for achieving long-term development goals. In a move aimed at improving participation and efficiency, residents will be offered a self-enumeration facility allowing them to upload household information securely via an online portal.
Under the digital framework, households will respond to 33 structured questions covering housing conditions, family composition, access to basic amenities, ownership of household assets and indicators of living standards. State coordinator C.K. Anil said citizens will be able to submit details between April 17 and May 1 during the self-declaration phase, after which enumerators will conduct door-to-door verification from May 2 to May 31.
The second stage of the census is scheduled from February 9 to February 28, 2027, when field staff will prepare final household rosters and compile population figures. The exercise is being overseen by officials including census director M. Ramachandrudu, with authorities highlighting that digital tools are expected to enhance data reliability while reducing processing time.
Officials say the census will serve as a foundational dataset for welfare schemes and policy formulation. Pratyaya Amrit described the exercise as a cornerstone of governance rather than a mere statistical operation, adding that precise data collection will support planning aligned with the Developed India 2047 vision. Analysts suggest the transition to a digital census could significantly modernise Bihar’s administrative data systems and improve the targeting of public services.
