Census in Odisha: First phase to begin in April, second phase in Feb 2027

The first phase of the Census in Odisha will commence from April while the second phase is scheduled to be conducted in February 2027, officials said on Wednesday.

During the first phase, the House Listing and Housing Census will be carried out, covering details related to residential structures and household assets. The second phase will involve door-to-door population enumeration across the state.

Ahead of the exercise, Development Commissioner Deo Ranjan Singh held discussions with all district collectors to review preparedness. A state-level Census Coordination Committee meeting was also held at Lok Seva Bhawan, which was attended by the Census Director and other senior officials.

Preparations for the Census have been underway in the state for the past six months. Trial runs have already been completed in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Newly declared NAC and municipal boundaries have also been finalised for the purpose of enumeration.

Training of census personnel will be conducted over the next three months. One enumerator will be appointed for every 200 households, while one supervisor will oversee the work of six enumerators. Around one lakh census officials are expected to be engaged across the state. Each enumerator will receive a financial incentive of Rs 25,000.

Officials said citizens will also have the option to self-enumerate by submitting their details through a designated website using an OTP-based mobile verification system. Nearly, 90 per cent of the census work will be conducted online, with authorities aiming for 100 per cent accuracy in data collection.

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“We have absorbed all the 24 new NACs and corporations announced by the Odisha government. Necessary training will be provided between January and April and enumerator will be selected. Enumerators will get Rs 25,000 remuneration,” said Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, director, Census.