Chandigarh, Jan 2 (NationPress) The Haryana government has officially launched extensive preparations for the digital Census 2027, marking the state's first fully digital enumeration, according to officials on Friday.

The inaugural meeting of the state-level census coordination committee was presided over by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, where comprehensive administrative, logistical, and operational measures were evaluated to facilitate the smooth and timely execution of this national endeavor.

To guarantee the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of data, the Chief Secretary stated that all administrative boundaries in Haryana have been frozen.

No alterations will be made until the census operations are concluded, he emphasized.

Following the guidelines from the Indian government, the house-listing and housing census, which is Phase-I of Census 2027, is set to commence on May 1.

To bolster preparedness at the district level, a one-day conference for Deputy Commissioners will be organized soon to inform Principal Census Officers about timelines, responsibilities, and detailed operational strategies.

Highlighting the significance of thorough preparation, the Chief Secretary stressed that effective inter-departmental collaboration and prompt decision-making are vital for the successful implementation of Census 2027 and urged all departments to offer their full cooperation.

To ensure continuity and prevent disruption, it has been decided that census personnel will not be transferred during the census period, with necessary instructions to be issued accordingly.

For close monitoring and coordination at the grassroots level, Census 2027 will be included as a standing agenda item in monthly district-level review meetings, Chief Secretary Rastogi added.

Census Director Lalit Jain informed the committee that Census 2027 represents a transformational milestone, as the entire operation will be conducted digitally.

Demonstrating Haryana's technological readiness, he noted that a 100 percent digital pre-test using mobile applications was successfully conducted in Panchkula, Hisar, and Faridabad, covering over one lakh residents.

The state completed the pre-test within the specified timeframe, receiving commendations from the Registrar General of India.

For the execution of census operations, approximately 60,000 government employees, primarily teachers and other government staff, will be deployed as enumerators and supervisors during the first phase, reflecting the scale and significance of this initiative.

The meeting also acknowledged changes in the administrative and demographic landscape of the state since the 2011 Census.

For Census 2027, Haryana will have 23 districts compared to 21 in 2011, while the number of sub-districts has risen from 75 to 94.

Statutory towns have increased from 80 to 88, while census towns have decreased from 74 to 51.

Urban agglomerations have significantly grown from 12 to 20.

The number of villages now totals 6,523 compared to 6,841 in 2011.

Houselisting blocks, which numbered 45,361 in 2011, are projected to be around 51,000 for Census 2027.