Census: Registrar General asks states to maintain 24/7 social media monitoring cells

PTI, Oct 19, 2026, New Delhi: The Registrar General of India (RGI) has directed state and Union Territory directorates to maintain 24/7 social media monitoring cells to track digital discussions and enable authorities to publish rebuttals and fact-checks in real time as the second phase of the Census — Population Enumeration — will begin in various states soon.

In a letter to all states and Union territories, RGI Mritunjay Kumar Narayan also said a tableau may be showcased during next year's Republic Day, subject to approval from the Defence Ministry.

Giving details of a publicity campaign to be undertaken by the RGI at different levels, Narayan said the campaign for the PE phase will not only inform people about the questions to be asked during field visits but will also educate them on accessing and completing the digital Self-Enumeration (SE) module, where the public can fill in their information from the comfort of their homes.

"For the successful enumeration in Phase-II, it is crucial that adequate publicity measures, similar to the HLO phase, are undertaken to raise awareness among people about the importance of the Census exercise and its utility in shaping the nation. Such efforts also establish rapport with people, ensuring a warm and positive reception for enumerators during household visits," he said.

The directive comes as preparations for the population enumeration phase gather pace following the completion of house-listing operations.

The campaign will seek to inform people about the questions enumerators will ask during household visits, explain how to complete the digital self-enumeration module and reassure respondents that the information provided by them is legally confidential under the Census Act.

The planned publicity drive will combine national mass-media advertising with state-level campaigns and district-level outreach. National efforts will include advertisements in newspapers, television commercials, digital cinema screens, mobile applications and transport systems, as well as explanatory videos, myth-busting content and WhatsApp and SMS outreach.

The RGI has also outlined a clear segregation of publicity modes across administrative levels to ensure comprehensive 360-degree media coverage without duplication, to the extent possible.

The state and Union Territory directorates will launch state-specific organic publicity tailored to regional requirements, the letter said.

"DCOs are advised to maintain effective 24/7 social media monitoring cells to track digital narratives around the clock for any adverse comments, false narratives, or local misinterpretations, so that authoritative rebuttals and fact-checks can be published in real time through state/UT machinery," it said.

The Census, the eighth since Independence, is being conducted in two phases — the first stage is known as the house-listing and housing census, and the second stage is the population enumeration.

The decennial exercise, scheduled for 2021, was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Union Cabinet has approved Rs 11,718 crore for conducting the Census, which will be the biggest headcount exercise.

Population enumeration in Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand, barring the snow-bound areas of the hill state, will take place from December 1, 2026, to January 4, 2027, because of the Assembly polls due in these states.

The Centre has deferred the house-listing operations for Census 2027 in Manipur, according to a notification issued by the RGI last month.

The exercise in Ladakh and the snow-bound non-synchronous areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand took place from September 1 to September 30.

For the rest of the country, the exercise is likely to begin in February next year, during which data on various demographic, socio-cultural and economic parameters, along with the migration and fertility characteristics of individuals from each household, will be collected.