Census 2027 starts April 16 in Andhra, goes digital

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh will begin the self-enumeration process for Census 2027 from April 16, marking the start of a major administrative exercise. Director of Census Operations J. Nivas said officials will conduct the census in two phases and use a fully digital format. In the first phase, teams will carry out Houselisting and Housing Census to count houses and buildings and assess manpower and logistical needs.

Moreover, this shift to digital mode will improve the speed and accuracy of data collection. It will also streamline processing and minimize errors compared to traditional methods.

Census process and significance

Officials will complete the exercise in two stages—Houselisting and Housing Census, followed by Population Census. The government treats it as one of the largest administrative exercises in the country, and it plays a key role in governance. Authorities use the collected data to design policies, allocate resources, and improve infrastructure in both rural and urban areas.

Additionally, authorities have warned that they will take strict action against anyone who obstructs the process. They have urged citizens to cooperate and provide accurate information. The state has republished all related notifications, and officials have formally notified the questionnaire through a gazette.

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Preparations and data collection details

Meanwhile, the state has completed preparations for the census. Officials froze administrative units as of January 1, 2026, and conducted pre-tests in districts like Alluri Sitharamaraju, Visakhapatnam, Prakasam, and Nandyal in November 2025. They also held coordination meetings earlier this year and finalized the appointment of field staff.

During the houselisting phase, enumerators will collect details on household amenities such as water, sanitation, lighting, and cooking fuel. They will also gather information on assets like internet access, computers, vehicles, and mobile phones. The census framework covers 28 districts, 688 mandals, 123 statutory towns, 99 census towns, and 16,862 villages, showing the large scale of the exercise.

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