As preparations begin for India’s upcoming Census exercise scheduled for 2026–27, authorities have issued warnings about fraudsters posing as government officials and attempting to exploit citizens under the guise of census data collection. The census, one of the world’s largest statistical exercises covering over 1.4 billion people, is expected to be conducted in a phased and partially digital format.

Officials have reported instances of misleading messages circulating on platforms such as WhatsApp, where scammers falsely claim to represent the Ministry of Home Affairs or census authorities. While such viral claims have been debunked, officials caution that similar tactics may be used by criminals attempting to extract sensitive personal or financial information from households.

The government has clarified that genuine census enumerators do not request banking details, UPI credentials, OTPs, or any form of payment. Residents are also advised not to share photocopies of identity documents such as Aadhaar or PAN cards during the enumeration process unless through officially verified channels. Authorities emphasise that no fee is required to participate in the census.

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According to guidelines, authorised census officials will visit households in person but will not force entry, demand payments, or ask residents to download third-party applications or click on external links. The data collection will be limited to demographic, social, and economic information necessary for statistical purposes.

The Census 2027 exercise will be carried out in two phases, with the first phase focusing on housing conditions and the second covering individual-level demographic and socio-economic details. The process will involve millions of field personnel deployed across urban, rural, and remote regions to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Ahead of physical enumeration, citizens will also have access to a self-enumeration portal allowing them to submit details online in multiple languages. Upon completion, a unique identification number will be generated, which will be used by officials during verification visits through handheld digital devices. Authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant and verify credentials before sharing any information during the census process.

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