Patna: The self-enumeration campaign launched under the Census of India 2027 has received a massive response across Bihar, with lakhs of people participating in the online process before the beginning of the door-to-door survey phase. Officials said the campaign, which was conducted between April 17 and May 1, aimed to encourage citizens to submit their household details digitally in advance, making the overall census process faster and more organised. The large participation is being seen as a positive sign for the upcoming nationwide census exercise, especially at a time when the government is trying to expand the use of digital systems in public administration.
According to official data, a total of 4,850,848 people took part in the self-enumeration campaign in Bihar. Out of these, 168,564 residents started the process, while 4,682,284 people completed it successfully online. Officials said the campaign witnessed strong participation from both rural and urban areas. Many residents used mobile phones and online platforms to submit their family details, reducing the burden on field workers and helping authorities prepare accurate records in advance. The administration described the response as encouraging and said public awareness regarding the census process has increased significantly compared with earlier years.
Among all districts, Madhubani recorded the highest participation with more than 605,000 self-enumerations. Vaishali stood second with over 586,000 entries, while Darbhanga secured the third position with more than 495,000 participants. Gopalganj, Patna and Bhojpur also reported high numbers during the online campaign. Several other districts including Aurangabad, Khagaria, Katihar, Purnia, Jamui, Muzaffarpur and Siwan witnessed active public involvement as residents came forward to complete the process voluntarily. Officials believe this strong response reflects growing trust in digital governance systems and better internet access across the state.
At the same time, some districts recorded lower participation figures compared with others. Sheohar, Kishanganj, Jehanabad, Banka, Begusarai, Kaimur, Munger, Arwal and Lakhisarai remained among the districts with fewer completed self-enumerations. Authorities said awareness campaigns and direct field visits during the second phase are expected to improve coverage in these areas. Officials added that no household would be left out of the census process, regardless of whether they participated online or not.
The second phase of the campaign officially began on May 2 and will continue until May 31. During this period, enumerators appointed by the government will visit homes across Bihar to collect detailed information directly from families. Residents will be asked 33 questions related to household conditions, population details and other demographic information. Officials said people who have already completed self-enumeration online should provide their SS ID to the visiting enumerators for verification. This step is expected to help officials complete the census work more quickly and reduce duplication of records. Authorities say the combination of online self-enumeration and physical surveys will help make Census 2027 more efficient and accurate than previous exercises.
