Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas on Monday, 3 August chaired a high-level review of Census 2027 preparations at the Directorate of Census Operations, Jaipur, commending officials for completing the first phase and directing them to accelerate groundwork for the Population Enumeration phase, set to begin in February 2027. The review underscored the state government's push to modernise statistical infrastructure ahead of the nationwide exercise.

Phase One Completed, Phase Two in Sight

Srinivas confirmed that the House Listing and Housing Census — the first phase of Census 2027 — has been successfully completed across Rajasthan. He directed officials to immediately step up administrative and logistical preparations for the upcoming Population Enumeration phase. The Chief Secretary also called for expediting the revision of District Census Handbooks and Administrative Atlases, noting that Rajasthan has seen a significant increase in the number of districts, tehsils, and sub-divisions in recent years.

Digital and Geospatial Tools at the Centre

A central directive from the meeting was the wider adoption of digital technologies and geospatial tools to sharpen planning and strengthen implementation of government schemes at the grassroots level. To build technical capacity ahead of Phase Two, it was decided to organise a dedicated workshop on geospatial and digital technologies before 17 August. Srinivas stressed that such tools are no longer optional — they are essential for accurate enumeration and effective policy delivery.

Data as the Foundation of Governance

Referring to recent deliberations of the National Demographic Change Committee, Srinivas highlighted that reliable data on population, agriculture, and economic indicators forms the bedrock of transparent and effective policymaking. He credited the Directorate of Economics and Statistics for its robust database systems and regular statistical publications, noting that Rajasthan has emerged as one of the country's leading states in statistical management.

Officials and Cadre Recognised

The Chief Secretary praised the Directorate's statistical team for maintaining high professional standards and acknowledged the contribution of statistical investigators and officers, saying the statistics cadre plays a vital role in translating census data into public welfare policies. The meeting was attended by Dr Ravi Kumar Surpur, Secretary, Department of Statistics; Bishnu Charan Mallick, Director of Census Operations; and other senior officials and statistical investigators. Srinivas also planted a sapling on the Directorate premises as part of an environmental conservation initiative.

What Comes Next

With the geospatial workshop scheduled before 17 August and the Population Enumeration phase slated for February 2027, Rajasthan's Census machinery is now in active preparation mode. The state's ability to update its administrative atlases in time — particularly given the expanded district count — will be a key logistical test in the months ahead.