Nagaland sets to conduct population census in 2027

DIMAPUR — Nagaland is set to conduct population census in 2027, the 16th census in a series and 8th since Independence, in two phases. The first phase, which is called ‘house listing operation’ would be carried between April and September 2026, while the second phase called ‘population enumeration’ would be conducted in February 2027 throughout the country except snow-bound areas.

This was informed by the director of Census Operation, Dr. Zasekuolie Chusi, during a meeting with Nagaland Chief Secretary, Sentiyanger Imchen, at the latter’s office chamber on August 7. An update from the Census department stated that the director along with officers from the department had congratulated the chief secretary on his promotion to the top bureaucratic post in the state and sought his assistance and guidance in the forthcoming census.

The director informed that census 2027 would be the first digital census where enumerators would use mobile phones to collect information during field work. He also informed that there would also be a provision for ‘self-enumeration’ by the residents, which is also a first of its kind in census operations.

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He apprised that all jurisdictional changes in the country would be frozen from January 1, 2026, which means census 2027 would be undertaken based on the jurisdiction existing on December 31, 2025.

The chief secretary was also informed that though census is a union subject, its operation would be executed by the state machinery with deputy commissioners as principal census officers and administrative officers as charge officers in the district level along with supervisors and enumerators appointed from the teaching community.

It informed that unlike previous censuses where enumerators were required to draw a free-hand notional map of the area allotted to him, in census 2027 enumerators would be using geo-referenced digital layout map and that all buildings/structures would be geo-tagged.

Meanwhile, it informed that a pre-test was contemplated in the coming months in one district and would cover both rural as well as urban area. It would be a dress rehearsal for the actual census and incorporate all aspects of the operation namely appointment of census officials, training, field work and payment of honorarium, it stated.

A district with difficulty in accessibility and with shadow area in network coverage has been intended to be selected for the pre-test.

Report further stated that a brief powerpoint presentation on the processes of census, preparedness and timelines was made by Mhathung Rangthang, assistant director.