Self-enumeration exercise for India's 16th Census kicks-off in West Bengal

The self-enumeration facility for Census 2027, enabling citizens to independently record and submit their family details, has been launched across the State. File. | Photo Credit: R.K. Nithin The self-enumeration exercise of India's 16th Census kicked off in West Bengal on Saturday (August 1, 2026), with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari filling up his own form digitally.Census 2027: How to do self-enumeration - a step-by-step guideThe window for the first phase of the once-in-a-decade population survey will remain open from August 1 to August 15, during which people can upload their details on the portal se.census.gov.in.This will be followed by a house-listing exercise from August 16 to September 14.Describing the exercise as the country's first "100% digital" Census, Mr. Adhikari urged people across West Bengal to participate in the survey and cooperate with the authorities."I urge every person across West Bengal to cooperate with the authorities involved with the process and participate via self-enumeration in this Census," he said.Seeking to allay privacy concerns, the Chief Minister said the Census was "absolutely secret" and legally protected."Data collected will be used only for statistics, planning and development. There is no scope for any form of misuse of personal information in this Census," Mr. Adhikari said. Published - August 01, 2026 12:56 pm IST