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Census –  President Droupadi Murmu has sanctioned the appointment of Indian Administrative Service officer Rashmi Kamal as the Director of Census Operations and Director of Citizen Registration for West Bengal. The appointment was confirmed through an official government directive issued on Wednesday, marking a significant administrative move ahead of the upcoming nationwide census exercise.

Appointment Details and Tenure

According to the government order, Kamal, who belongs to the 2006 batch of IAS officers from the West Bengal cadre, will formally take charge from the afternoon of January 14, 2026. Her appointment has been made under the Central Staffing Scheme, which allows officers to serve on deputation to central government roles. The tenure for the position has been fixed for three years or until further instructions are issued by the authorities, whichever comes earlier.

She will operate from Kolkata, which will serve as the administrative headquarters for all census and citizen registration-related activities under her jurisdiction.

Administrative Responsibilities and Role Importance

With nearly two decades of experience in public administration, Kamal will be responsible for supervising and coordinating census operations across West Bengal. Her role will also include overseeing citizen registration work linked to the implementation of provisions under the Citizenship Act.

The Office of the Director of Census Operations plays a crucial role in conducting the decennial population count and ensuring accurate documentation of demographic data. The office is also responsible for executing registration processes that help maintain updated records of citizens within the state.

Preparations for Census of India 2027

The appointment comes at a time when preparatory activities for the Census of India 2027 are progressing steadily. The Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier issued a notification on January 7 announcing the houselisting operations, which will be carried out across all states and Union Territories between April 1 and September 30, 2026. Each state and Union Territory will conduct the houselisting exercise over a designated 30-day period within this timeframe.

Houselisting is considered the first stage of the census and involves collecting detailed information about residential structures and household characteristics.

Housing and Household Data Collection Framework

The government has already released a questionnaire that will be used during the first phase of Census 2027, focusing on houselisting and housing data collection. The Office of the Registrar General has authorised census officials to gather information through this structured questionnaire.

The survey will include 33 different data points, covering details such as house numbering, type of construction materials used in floors, walls, and roofs, and the condition and purpose of the building. It will also record household size, ownership status, and the number of rooms available in each dwelling.

Additionally, demographic information related to the head of the household, including gender and social classification, will also be documented as part of the survey process.

Collection of Amenities and Technology Access Information

Officials will collect data regarding access to essential services such as drinking water, electricity supply, toilets, bathing facilities, kitchens, and cooking fuel sources including LPG and PNG connections. The questionnaire will also seek information about wastewater disposal systems and the availability of communication and transportation tools like internet access, mobile phones, computers, televisions, and vehicles.

Authorities have clarified that mobile numbers will be collected only for census-related communication and administrative coordination.

Second Phase Population Enumeration Timeline

The government has stated that the questionnaire for the second phase of Census 2027, which will focus on population enumeration, will be released separately at a later stage. The population count is scheduled to take place in February 2027, with March 1, 2027, set as the official reference date for nationwide enumeration.

However, due to extreme weather conditions, enumeration in snow-bound areas such as Ladakh and certain regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand will be conducted earlier in September 2026, with October 1, 2026, serving as the reference date for those locations.

Self-Enumeration and Pilot Survey Initiatives

The government has also introduced an option for self-enumeration, allowing residents to submit their information independently during a 15-day period before the commencement of physical houselisting operations.

Earlier pilot surveys were conducted to test operational and digital data collection models. A nationwide pre-test exercise concluded on November 30, 2025, while the houselisting pilot was conducted between November 10 and November 30, 2025. During this period, self-enumeration facilities were made available between November 1 and November 7, 2025.

Legal Framework and Policy Decisions

The census process is carried out under the Census Rules of 1990, which mandate that official questionnaires and schedules must be notified through the government gazette. The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner is currently finalising the documentation required for Census 2027.

The upcoming census will also include caste-based data collection, as approved by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs in April 2025.