West Bengal has completed the first phase of Census field work ahead of the 14 September deadline, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Wednesday, calling it a 'proud and momentous milestone' for the state. All 1,73,066 Houselisting Blocks (HLBs) across every district, subdivision, block, municipal corporation, and municipality have been covered, according to Adhikari.

Key Figures from the Field Operation

In a post on his official X account, Chief Minister Adhikari stated that more than 3.68 crore census houses — specifically 3,68,30,150 — have been successfully enumerated against a projected target of 3.69 crore. This translates to an enumeration coverage of nearly 99.7 per cent of all expected households, which officials have described as an outstanding operational benchmark.

The exercise covered households across diverse geographies, including hills, plains, and riverine belts — terrain that historically poses logistical challenges for large-scale administrative operations.

What the Chief Minister Said

'I am immensely pleased to share that West Bengal has achieved 100 per cent field work completion for Census Phase-1 well within the deadline of September 14. A proud and momentous milestone for West Bengal. Through sheer dedication, meticulous planning and relentless effort, our administrative machinery has covered every corner of the State with remarkable speed and accuracy,' Adhikari said in his X post.

He also acknowledged the role of district-level administration, stating: 'District Magistrates, SDOs, BDOs, Municipal Commissioners, and In Charge Officers for their tireless round-the-clock coordination and leadership' were central to the achievement.

Ground-Level Workforce Credited

Chief Minister Adhikari credited thousands of grassroots enumerators and supervisors who, he said, 'walked miles in every weather condition, reaching every household across hills, plains and riverine belts.' The acknowledgement underscores the scale of human deployment required to conduct a Census exercise across one of India's most densely populated states.

Notably, West Bengal is among India's most populous states, with a complex administrative geography spanning urban agglomerations, rural blocks, and remote riverine zones — making the 100 per cent HLB coverage figure particularly significant from an operational standpoint.

Citizens' Role Highlighted

Adhikari also extended thanks to the general public, saying: 'My deepest thanks to every Citizen of our State for their warm hospitality, patient cooperation, and proactive participation in opening their doors to our enumerators. When we work together with commitment and unity, West Bengal sets the standard for excellence.'

The Census field work, long delayed from its original schedule, marks a significant administrative step for the state. The data gathered in Phase 1 — the houselisting and housing census — forms the foundational layer for the population enumeration phase that follows.

What Comes Next

Phase 1 data will now be processed and validated before the second phase of the Census — actual population enumeration — is conducted. The broader national Census exercise, delayed since 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is being watched closely as it will inform policy decisions on welfare schemes, delimitation, and resource allocation across India. West Bengal's on-time completion of Phase 1 sets a benchmark that other states will be measured against.