PANAJI
The pre-test for the first phase of the Population Census 2027 has begun with Goa joining the nationwide exercise to assess the efficacy of the digital self-enumeration system. Enumerators in select pockets have commenced visits from Saturday to guide citizens in filling household details on the dedicated online platform.
Two locations – Corgao village in Pernem and Ward 16 of Margao Municipal area – have been identified for the week-long self-enumeration module from November 1 to 7. Residents in these areas can update their own details by logging on to test.census.gov.in/se.
This will be India’s first fully digital Census and also the first decennial Census to be conducted since Independence. Officials said that the self-enumeration website and the mobile application developed for the Houselisting and Housing Census phase are currently being tested and will not be widely publicised until field conditions, access and useability are evaluated.
During the pre-test, households will be required to answer around 30 questions covering building and house numbers, construction material, head of household details, number of residents, access to drinking water, lighting, toilets, fuels for cooking, and ownership of devices and vehicles, among others. Information on the main cereal consumed and the mobile number will also be recorded.
Ahead of the exercise, the State government designated the North and South Goa Collectors as Principal Census Officers. The Directorate of Census Operations (DCO) deployed 27 teachers and government servants as enumerators and supervisors for the exercise.
“The pre-test will take place in two parts. Between November 1 and 7, enumerators will share portal access details with selected households for self-enumeration. They will return between November 10 and 30 to verify entries and complete the enumeration of the remaining households. On the second visit, the details submitted online will be reflected in the mobile application prepared for the HLO phase, both modules being linked to the Census Management and Monitoring System,” the official explained.
Officials further stated that the pre-test is crucial to evaluate the proposed questions, digital data collection systems, training modules, logistics, and the overall field-readiness of the Census process. The findings will be used to refine the methodology before the nationwide rollout.
The Census 2027 will be undertaken in two phases. The house-listing operations, covering all buildings and dwelling units, will be carried out between April and September 2026. The population enumeration – the headcount phase – will be conducted in February 2027. Notably, this Census will also enumerate caste for all members of every household.
