Guwahati recently hosted a crucial four-day residential Master Trainers’ Training Programme for the first phase of Census 2027, the House Listing and Housing Census (HLO), which concluded on June 12, 2026. The programme, organised by the Directorate of Census Operations, Assam, at the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) at Lalmati, prepared 59 master trainers for the extensive enumeration exercise across the state.

These master trainers will now lead the training of 1,109 field trainers, who will in turn equip an estimated 83,535 enumerators and supervisors, including reserve personnel, for the effective implementation of the upcoming Census in Assam. The initiative marks a significant step in the state’s preparations for India’s first fully digital census, aimed at ensuring accurate and comprehensive data collection.

What was announced

The Master Trainers’ Training Programme commenced on June 9, 2026, bringing together 44 officials from various districts of Assam and 15 officials from the Directorate of Census Operations (DCO), Assam. The training focused on essential aspects of house listing and housing census operations, including census concepts, procedures, field protocols, and the utilisation of digital tools and applications specifically designed for Census 2027.

The inaugural session saw the presence of key officials such as Biswajit Pegu, IAS, Census-cum-Chief Principal Census Officer, Assam; Jatin Bora, Secretary, General Administration Department, Assam; Pritam Dutta, IDAS, Director (ENP), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India; and Partha Pegu, ACS, State Government Nodal Officer for Census 2027. Four national trainers, including Bikash Nath and Nayan Moni Gogoi from DCO Assam, and Utpal Sharma and Md. Chafikhur Rahman from DCO Arunachal Pradesh, imparted the training in two batches to facilitate focused learning.

The programme concluded on June 12, 2026, with Biswajit Pegu, Director of Census Operations-cum-Chief Principal Census Officer, Assam, addressing the valedictory session. He underscored the critical role of the master trainers in ensuring high-quality and uniform training across the state.

Why it matters

Census 2027 is India’s 16th national census and the eighth since independence, representing the world’s largest administrative and statistical exercise. It is also the nation’s first fully digital census, leveraging mobile applications for data collection and a dedicated web portal for self-enumeration. This digital approach aims to enhance data accuracy, transparency, and speed of dissemination.

For Assam, the census holds particular significance. The data collected will be vital for evidence-based planning, governance, and policy formulation, especially in a demographically sensitive border state. Accurate enumeration is crucial for determining resource allocation, welfare scheme distribution, electoral delimitation, and safeguarding indigenous identity. The updated dataset from the Houselisting and Housing Census will support both state and central governments in planning housing, infrastructure, and basic service delivery across Assam’s rural and urban areas, including targeted interventions in flood-prone regions, urban expansion zones, and tribal areas.

Background

The Census of India is conducted under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948, and the Census Rules, 1990, by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The last census was conducted in 2011, and the 2021 exercise was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a 16-year data gap. The Union Cabinet approved the proposal for Census 2027 with a financial outlay of Rs. 11,718.24 crore.

Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases. Phase I, the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO), is scheduled between April and September 2026, with each state and Union Territory completing its fieldwork within a 30-day window. Phase II, the Population Enumeration (PE), is scheduled for February 2027, with March 1, 2027, as the national reference date.

A significant new feature of Census 2027 is the inclusion of caste enumeration for the first time since 1931, which will be collected electronically during the second phase. Furthermore, the government has introduced an optional self-enumeration facility through a web portal, allowing residents to submit their details online before enumerators visit.

Key details

The Directorate of Census Operations, Assam, has finalised a structured training and deployment plan for the Census 2027. The training cascade involves three levels: four national trainers trained the 59 master trainers in Guwahati. These master trainers will then train 1,109 field trainers. Subsequently, the field trainers will impart training to 83,535 enumerators and supervisors across Assam.

For Assam, the self-enumeration phase for the Houselisting and Housing Census will be open from August 2 to August 16, 2026, through the official portal se.census.gov.in. The house-to-house enumeration by trained personnel using digital devices will follow from August 17 to September 15, 2026. The Population Enumeration (Phase II) in Assam will align with the national schedule in February 2027, with the reference date fixed as March 1, 2027.

The Registrar General of India has issued detailed directives outlining the duties of census enumerators, supervisors, and officers. These include ensuring complete coverage of all houses, maintaining polite behaviour, and accurately filling data in the mobile application during door-to-door visits. Penalties, including imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of Rs. 1,000, are prescribed under Section 11 of the Census Act, 1948, for officers found not performing their duties or damaging census documents.

Reactions

“The successful conduct of Census 2027 will require coordinated administrative efforts, public participation and timely preparedness at every level,” Dr. Ravi Kota, Chief Secretary of Assam, said, emphasising the importance of the exercise.

Biswajit Pegu, IAS, Director of Census Operations-cum-Chief Principal Census Officer, Assam, urged the master trainers to maintain the highest standards of accuracy, professionalism, and commitment during the forthcoming census operations. He also highlighted the conference’s focus on training and logistical planning for the massive exercise.

Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan, IAS, Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, stressed the central role of technology, self-enumeration, and real-time monitoring systems in ensuring accurate and transparent data collection for Census 2027. He also highlighted the importance of the first phase of the census exercise during a state-level conference in Guwahati.

What’s next

Following the Master Trainers’ Training Programme, the 1,109 field trainers are tentatively scheduled to begin their training in the third week of June 2026. This will be followed by the training of the 83,535 enumerators and supervisors before the commencement of the Houselisting and Housing Census operations in Assam. The state government has activated Census Cells and frozen administrative boundaries of districts, towns, and villages from January 1, 2026, to ensure uniform data collection. Public awareness campaigns are also underway to encourage widespread participation in this crucial national exercise.

Sources & References

Source: Master trainers’ training programme of Assam for Census 2027 begins in Guwahati | The Shillong Times