In preparation for the 2027 census, the Bihar government conducted a meeting led by Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit to review progress and issue instructions. The State Level Census Coordination Committee (SLCCC), formed to facilitate coordination and monitoring, was the focus of the gathering.
The meeting saw participation from the Bihar General Administration Department, Revenue and Land Reforms Department, Education Department, Finance Department, Planning and Development Department, Social Welfare Department, Panchayati Raj Department, Urban Development and Housing Department, Rural Development Department, Information and Public Relations Department, and Information Technology Department, alongside District Magistrates from Sitamarhi, Nawada, and Saran.
The primary focus of the meeting was the structure of the upcoming 2027 census and the pre-testing phase.
Key discussion points included:
1. Review of the administrative jurisdictions of the 534 rural and 263 urban administrative units in Bihar.
2. A directive from the Census Operations Directorate confirming that administrative boundaries would remain unchanged from December 31, 2025, until the census completion date of March 31, 2027, as per the state’s Boundary Freezing notification.
3. The 2027 Census is planned in two phases. Phase one, house listing and enumeration, will be completed within 30 days between April and September 2026. Phase two, the actual enumeration, is scheduled for February 9-28, 2027.
4. The 2027 Census will be entirely digital, with the following aspects discussed:
* Updating administrative units via a dedicated portal for jurisdictional changes.
* Utilizing the Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS) portal for appointment letters, identity cards, digital charge registers, and the overall monitoring of census activities for supervisors and enumerators.
* Preparation of House Listing Blocks (HLBs) and Digital Layout Maps (DLM).
* Offering self-enumeration options to the public.
5. Comprehensive training programs will be implemented across five levels, including Subject Matter Experts, National Trainers, Master Trainers, Field Trainers, enumerators, and supervisors.
6. Pre-testing will be carried out in October-November 2025 in three Bihar charges, using a mobile application for the first time. This pre-testing will evaluate the Questionnaire, CMMS portal, HLO and PE mobile app, DLM Mapping App, and HLB Creator Portal.