Nagaland Census 2027: Self-Enumeration from June 16, House Listing July 1, Population Enumeration in February 2027

Nagaland Home Department issues directives for upcoming Census 2027

The Home Department has issued directives for public cooperation to ensure the smooth conduct of the upcoming Census 2027. The first phase of Census 2027, i.e., House-Listing and Housing Census, will be conducted in Nagaland from 1st July 2026 to 30th July 2026. The option for self-enumeration will be operational from 16th June 2026 to 30th June 2027. The second phase, Population Enumeration (PE), will be conducted across the country in February 2027, followed by a revisional round from 1st to 5th March 2027.

The Census is the primary source of data down to the lowest administrative units, i.e., villages in rural areas and towns/wards in urban areas, covering Housing Conditions, Amenities & Assets, Demography, Literacy, Religion, Economic Activity, Migration, Fertility, and more. This data is widely used for planning, policy formulation, and effective public administration by the Central, State, and Union Territory governments, in addition to other governance purposes. The public has been encouraged to cooperate fully and provide accurate information during the Census.

Some important provisions of the Census Act, 1948, are:

Section 8: Asking of questions and obligation to answer

1. A census officer may ask any person within their appointed area all questions as directed by instructions issued by the Central Government and published in the Official Gazette.
2. Every person must answer such questions to the best of their knowledge or belief. Provided that no person is required to state the name of any female household member, and no woman is required to state the name of her husband, deceased husband, or any person whose name she is forbidden by custom to mention.

Section 9: Occupier to permit access and affixing of numbers
Every person occupying a house, enclosure, vessel, or other place shall allow census officers reasonable access for the purpose of the Census and permit them to paint or affix necessary letters, marks, or numbers.

Section 10: Occupier or manager to fill up schedule

1. A census officer may leave a schedule at any dwelling or commercial/industrial establishment to be filled by the occupier, manager, or officer with particulars as directed.
2. The person must fill the schedule to the best of their knowledge or belief, sign it, and deliver it to the census officer or a designated person.

Section 11: Penalties

1. Any person who:
   • refuses to perform duties under this Act,
   • hinders or obstructs a census officer,
   • intentionally provides false information,
   • denies reasonable access to premises,
   • removes or damages marks or numbers, or
   • fails to fill a schedule as required,
     may be fined up to ₹1,000, and in some cases, imprisonment up to three years.
2. Anyone abetting these offences may also be fined up to ₹1,000.

Section 15: Records of Census not open to inspection or admissible in evidence
No person has the right to inspect any census records, books, registers, or schedules, and such records are not admissible in evidence in civil or criminal proceedings, except under prosecutions related to offences under this Act. (With DIPR inputs)

MT