PM Modi urges census participation in Mann Ki Baat, 32 crore families counted
Synopsis
In his Mann Ki Baat address, PM Modi revealed that over 32 crore families have been counted in the census first phase — and that 2.6 crore citizens have already self-registered via mobile. With a 15-minute, document-free digital process now live in 16 languages, the government is making its most tech-forward census push yet.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi used his Mann Ki Baat address on 27 September 2026 to urge citizens to participate in the national census.
Data for more than 32 crore families has been recorded as the first phase nears completion.
More than 2.6 crore people have already completed self-enumeration via mobile phone.
The self-registration portal at ec.census.gov.in supports 16 languages , takes 15–20 minutes , and requires no document uploads.
Census operations have reached remote areas including Mana village in Chamoli , Ladakh, and snow-bound parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his latest Mann Ki Baat address on 27 September 2026, made a fresh appeal to citizens to participate in the ongoing national census, calling it a 'collective national duty'. He revealed that data for more than 32 crore families has already been recorded as the first phase of the exercise nears completion.
Progress Across Remote Regions
Modi highlighted that census operations have reached even the most geographically challenging parts of the country, including snow-bound areas of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand. He described several ground-level experiences that underlined the scale and spirit of the exercise.
In Uttarakhand, the process began at Mana village in Chamoli district — widely regarded as the country's first village — with 83-year-old Purnima Rawat being the first to register. In Bhagori village of Uttarkashi, a homestay operator named Hardev Singh Rana personally entered his family's details using the digital platform, illustrating the accessibility of the self-enumeration system.
How the Self-Registration Process Works
Modi emphasised the convenience of the self-registration facility, which allows citizens to submit their information directly from a mobile phone. The portal, available at ec.census.gov.in, supports 16 languages including Hindi. Users log in with a mobile number, enter their location, fill in family details and submit — a process the Prime Minister said takes no more than 15 to 20 minutes and requires no document uploads.
Upon submission, a unique ID is generated. Once the submitted data is verified, it is incorporated into the official census record. More than 2.6 crore people have already completed self-enumeration via mobile, according to Modi.
Why the Census Matters
The Prime Minister stressed that a comprehensive, accurate census is the foundation of effective governance — it informs welfare scheme targeting, infrastructure planning, and resource allocation. This comes amid a broader push to modernise India's demographic data infrastructure, with the digital self-registration option being a key departure from earlier paper-based enumeration.
Notably, Modi had first raised the census participation call during his Independence Day address on 15 August, making Saturday's Mann Ki Baat a reiteration of that appeal as the first phase approaches its close.
What Comes Next
With the first phase nearly complete, attention will shift to data verification and the commencement of subsequent phases. The government has expressed confidence that with continued public cooperation, the exercise will be completed across all regions. Citizens who have not yet registered are being encouraged to use the digital portal before enumeration teams conclude their ground visits.
Point of View
Now in Mann Ki Baat — signal that participation levels are not where the government wants them. With 32 crore families counted but the exercise still ongoing, the digital self-registration push is a gamble: it lowers the barrier to entry but risks undercounting populations with limited smartphone access. The census is the bedrock of welfare targeting in India, and an incomplete count has downstream consequences for everything from parliamentary delimitation to food security allocation. The emphasis on human-interest stories from Mana village and Uttarkashi is deliberate optics — designed to normalise participation before the first-phase window closes.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did PM Modi say about the census in Mann Ki Baat?
PM Modi called the national census a 'collective national duty' and urged all citizens to participate, noting that data for over 32 crore families has already been recorded in the first phase. He highlighted digital self-registration as a quick, document-free option available in 16 languages.
How can I self-register for the India census online?
Citizens can self-register at the official portal ec.census.gov.in by logging in with a mobile number, entering their location and family details, and submitting — a process that takes 15 to 20 minutes with no document uploads required. A unique ID is generated upon submission.
How many people have completed digital self-enumeration so far?
More than 2.6 crore people have already used their mobile phones to complete the self-enumeration process, according to PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat address on 27 September 2026.
Why is the national census important?
The census provides the demographic data that underpins government welfare schemes, infrastructure planning, and resource allocation across India. An accurate and comprehensive count is essential for targeted delivery of benefits and for future parliamentary delimitation.
Has the census reached remote areas of India?
Yes. According to PM Modi, enumeration has progressed in snow-bound and remote regions including Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand, with operations starting at Mana village in Chamoli district — regarded as the country's first village.
