India's 2027 digital census kicks off in Gujarat, echoing historic postal campaigns

India began the first phase of its 2027 Census on June 1, starting with the House Listing and Housing Census across Gujarat. More than 3.74 million residents have already completed self‑enumeration using a new online portal, and enumerators will collect data on housing, water, sanitation and assets through Android and iOS apps available in 16 languages. The operation involves over 1 million house‑listing blocks, 1 09 038 enumerators and 18 254 supervisors, with confidentiality guaranteed by the Census Act of 1948.

An exhibition curated by economics professor Vikas Kumar highlights how India’s postal network previously mobilised citizens for census participation. Historic stamps, postmarks and inland‑letter cards—such as the 1951 bilingual pictorial postmark and the 1971 centenary commemorative stamp—turned everyday mail into a tool for public outreach, building trust and encouraging people to be counted in the nation‑building projects of post‑independence India.