The Registrar General of India (RGI) has directed state and Union Territory census directorates to establish round-the-clock social media monitoring cells to track online discussions, identify misinformation and issue real-time rebuttals as preparations gather pace for the second phase of Census 2027.
In a letter to all states and Union Territories, Registrar General Mritunjay Kumar Narayan outlined a comprehensive publicity strategy for the Population Enumeration (PE) phase, which will begin in several states later this year and across much of the country in February 2027.
The directive seeks to strengthen public awareness, counter misleading information and encourage participation in the country's largest population enumeration exercise.
๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ-๐๐ต๐ฒ-๐ฐ๐น๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด
The RGI has asked the Directorates of Census Operations (DCOs) to maintain 24x7 social media monitoring cells to identify adverse comments, false narratives and local misinterpretations relating to the Census.
"DCOs are advised to maintain effective 24/7 social media monitoring cells to track digital narratives around-the-clock for any adverse comments, false narratives, or local misinterpretations, so that authoritative rebuttals and fact-checks can be published in real time through state/UT machinery," the letter stated.
The monitoring mechanism will enable authorities to respond promptly to misinformation and clarify concerns about the enumeration process through official communication channels.
The directive forms part of a wider strategy to ensure that inaccurate or misleading claims do not undermine public confidence in the exercise.
๐๐ถ๐ด๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ณ-๐ฒ๐ป๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
The publicity campaign will explain the questions that enumerators will ask during household visits and guide citizens on using the digital Self-Enumeration (SE) module.
The facility will allow people to provide their information online from their residences, offering an alternative to relying entirely on in-person data collection.
The RGI has also directed authorities to reassure respondents that information furnished during the Census is legally confidential under the Census Act.
Narayan emphasised that extensive publicity was essential for ensuring public cooperation and facilitating smooth interactions between enumerators and households.
"For the successful enumeration in Phase-II, it is crucial that adequate publicity measures, similar to the HLO phase, are undertaken to raise awareness among people about the importance of the Census exercise and its utility in shaping the nation," he said.
He added that awareness initiatives would help establish rapport with residents and ensure a positive reception for enumerators during household visits.
๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐๐ฏ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ
The RGI has proposed a coordinated publicity campaign spanning national, state and district levels to maximise outreach while avoiding duplication.
National-level initiatives will include newspaper advertisements, television commercials, digital cinema promotions, mobile applications and advertisements across transport networks.
Explanatory videos, myth-busting campaigns and outreach through WhatsApp and SMS will also form part of the communication strategy.
State and Union Territory directorates have been asked to develop region-specific publicity campaigns tailored to local languages, demographic characteristics and communication requirements.
The RGI has additionally suggested that a Census-themed tableau could be showcased during the Republic Day celebrations next year, subject to approval from the Ministry of Defence.
๐๐ป๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ
Census 2027, the eighth Census since Independence, is being conducted in two phases, beginning with House Listing and Housing Census, followed by Population Enumeration.
The decennial exercise, originally scheduled for 2021, was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Union Cabinet has approved Rs 11,718 crore for conducting the Census.
Population enumeration in Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand, excluding snow-bound areas of the hill state, is scheduled from December 1, 2026, to January 4, 2027, in view of the Assembly elections due in these states.
The Centre has deferred house-listing operations in Manipur, according to an RGI notification issued last month.
The exercise in Ladakh and snow-bound non-synchronous areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand was conducted between September 1 and September 30.
For the remaining parts of the country, population enumeration is expected to begin in February 2027.
During this phase, enumerators will collect information on demographic, socio-cultural and economic characteristics, along with migration and fertility-related details of individuals in each household.
The RGI's communication strategy is intended to support the exercise by improving public understanding of enumeration procedures, encouraging digital participation and addressing misinformation before it affects field operations.