Telangana announces 2027 census schedule; Digital self-enumeration from April 26
HYDERABAD: The Telangana government formally announced the schedule and procedures for the 2027 Census of India, and introduced a digital self-enumeration option for residents statewide.
According to G.O.Ms. No.54, issued by the General Administration Department on April 1, 2026, states that the Houselisting and Housing Census operations in Telangana will run from May 11 to June 9, 2026. For the first time, residents can submit their household details online before field officials start door-to-door visits.
The Telangana Gazette informs that households can complete digital self-enumeration from April 26 to May 10, 2026. After this period, census officials will begin house visits on May 11. The government requests all Telangana residents to fully cooperate with census officials during the upcoming operations.
In its notification, the state government also drew attention to key provisions of the Census Act, 1948, reminded the public of their legal duties, and assured them of confidentiality protections. Section 8 empowers census officers to ask all such questions as the Central Government directs. Every person questioned must answer to the best of their knowledge or belief. However, no person must state the name of any female member of the household, and no woman must state the name of her husband or any other person whose name custom forbids her to mention.
Further, Section 9 requires every occupier of a house, enclosure, vessel, or other place to allow census officers reasonable access and permit them to affix letters, marks, or numbers for census purposes. Section 10 mandates that when a census schedule is left at a dwelling house or establishment, the occupier, manager, or officer must fill it up to the best of their knowledge, sign it, and deliver it as required.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The notification also lists penalties under Section 11 of the Census Act, 1948 for various offences, including refusing to perform census duties or obstructing a census officer (punishable with a fine up to Rs 1,000 and imprisonment up to three years), intentionally giving false answers or refusing to answer questions required under Section 8, refusing to allow reasonable access under Section 9, knowingly failing to fill a schedule under Section 10 or making a false return, and trespassing into a census office. Authorities can also fine up to Rs 1,000 for abetment of any such offence.
Crucially, Section 15 of the Census Act states that no person has the right to inspect any census book, register, record, or schedule. Moreover, notwithstanding the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, no court can admit a census entry as evidence in any civil proceeding, nor in any criminal proceeding except a prosecution under the Census Act itself. This confidentiality clause assures citizens that no one will use their personal information against them in any other legal or administrative forum.
The notification highlights that census data serves as the primary source of information at the village level in rural areas and at the ward level in urban areas, covering housing, amenities, demographics, literacy, religion, economic activity, migration, fertility, and more.
Central and state governments widely use census data for planning, policy formulation, and public administration. Authorities also rely on it to delimit and reserve constituencies for Parliament, Assemblies, Panchayats, and other local bodies.
Officials issued the notification following a circular from the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India, dated March 12, 2026, and subsequent communication from the Directorate of Census Operations, Telangana, dated March 20, 2026.
Officials encourage residents to use the self-enumeration option from April 26 to May 10, 2026, to support a smooth and efficient digital census. The government reiterates its request for full public cooperation in this vital national exercise.
Officials ordered the Gazette notification for publication in an extraordinary issue and sent copies to all district collectors, municipal commissioners, heads of departments, and the Registrar General & Census Commissioner in New Delhi.
