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With just two days left for the self-enumeration exercise under Census 2027, only 7.68 lakh people across Maharashtra have successfully registered their households online, raising concerns over low participation in what is being described as India’s first digital census.

Officials said nearly 12 per cent of applicants who began the process abandoned it midway, with many struggling to complete technical steps such as marking their location on digital maps.

According to census officials, around 8.9 lakh people initiated the registration process, but nearly 1.61 lakh did not complete their forms. Most of those who successfully registered were government employees, following statewide awareness drives conducted in government offices. A senior census official said the self-enumeration process was optional and not mandatory for citizens.

“Applications were abandoned at the stage where you have to ‘pinch and zoom’ on Google Maps to mark your exact location. Those who are not technologically savvy may find this hard, and that is okay,” the official said.

The official added that elderly citizens and residents in areas with unstable internet connectivity were among those facing difficulties completing the process.

Survey to begin Saturday

Census officials said citizens can complete self-enumeration on Thursday and Friday. From Saturday onwards, census officers will begin visiting homes across Maharashtra for the house-listing exercise. Under Sections 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the Census Act, 1948, residents are required to provide reasonable access and information to census officials. 

Add census details online at: se.census.gov.in

What happens if your house is locked?

Officials said multiple visits will be made to locked households. If repeated attempts fail, the house will be marked “locked” and excluded from the house-listing exercise.

Authorities expect challenges in surveying:
>> Migrant labourers
>> Students and young professionals
>> Nuclear families where both partners work
 
To address this, officials have introduced a “chit system”. If a home is locked, field officers will leave a note with their contact number, allowing residents to schedule a time for the visit. “If you missed a visit, you can call the field officer and request them to come to your house at a specific time,” an official said.

What census officers will  and won’t ask

Officials clarified that census staff will not seek
>> Aadhaar numbers
>> PAN card details
>> Electricity bills
>> Bank account information
>> Copies of photographs or ID proof
The 33-point questionnaire instead focuses on household amenities and living conditions.

What does the survey include?

The questionnaire covers:
>> Availability of toilets and bathrooms
>> Internet access
>> Mobile phones and laptops
>> Kitchen facilities
>> Household infrastructure and amenities 

Who are the census officers?

Officials said school teachers have largely been selected and trained for the exercise.
“Teachers are selected and trained. They have a status of trust and reliability in the eyes of a community,” a senior official said.

Census timeline

Phase 1 House listing and housing census 
Phase 2 Population enumeration

Census 2027: Important dates and timeline

Date / Period    Event
Thursday and Friday       Final two days for self-enumeration on the Census portal              
Saturday onwards          Census officers to begin door-to-door household visits across Maharashtra
Census 2026 – Phase 1  House listing and housing census
Phase 2 (later stage)     Population enumeration