Bhubaneswar, November 17, 2025: The Directorate of Census Operations, Odisha, has launched a pre-test for the house listing and housing census as part of preparations for the Census of India 2027. This preparatory exercise, officials said, will continue until November 30, 2025, and aims to streamline methodologies, test tools, and ensure smooth execution of the main census exercise.

Addressing the media, Census Director Nikhil Pavan Kalyan explained that the first phase of Census 2027 is being conducted under the administrative control of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, in close coordination with the state government. He emphasized that the current pre-test exercise is a trial run and does not constitute the full-scale census.

The pre-test is being carried out across four selected areas of Odisha: 20 revenue villages in Tentulikhunti Tahasil of Nabarangpur district, 44 revenue villages in Thakurmunda Tahasil of Mayurbhanj district, Ward No. 22 of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, and Ward No. 17 of Cuttack Municipal Corporation. During this period, enumerators—mostly primary school teachers—will visit households to assign house numbers and collect housing-related information. The public has been urged to cooperate with enumerators to ensure accurate data collection.

A significant innovation for Census 2027, Kalyan noted, is the emphasis on digital data collection and the introduction of a self-enumeration portal. This platform will allow households to submit information online, streamlining the process and improving data accuracy. In addition, each house will be geo-tagged using a Digital Layout Mapping App, which is expected to accelerate the processing and dissemination of census data.

Enumerators will collect detailed information regarding housing conditions, amenities, facilities, and family assets. The pre-test will help authorities fine-tune survey tools, training, and enumeration methods before the full-scale census is launched. Kalyan clarified that this preparatory phase is essential for identifying and rectifying potential challenges in the data collection process, enabling the main census to proceed efficiently and accurately.

Responding to queries, Kalyan emphasized that the actual Census 2027 exercise is scheduled to begin after official notification, likely in April or May 2026. The pre-test will inform planning and methodology adjustments to ensure comprehensive coverage and reliability of the census data.

The initiative reflects Odisha’s commitment to leveraging technology and modern data collection techniques. Officials highlighted that the geo-tagging system and digital self-enumeration portal are designed to reduce manual errors, increase transparency, and facilitate faster compilation of data. These tools are also expected to help in generating insights for policymaking, urban planning, and resource allocation once the census is completed.

Census officials noted that public awareness and cooperation are critical for the success of both the pre-test and the full-scale census. They have requested households in the selected areas to provide accurate information and assist enumerators in completing their work efficiently.

This pre-test phase is part of broader preparations across India for Census 2027, which will continue the tradition of the decennial enumeration of the country’s population and housing infrastructure. By piloting these new methodologies in selected areas, authorities hope to ensure that the main census exercise is conducted smoothly and produces reliable, actionable data for the state and the nation.