Hyderabad: The next Census signals a generational and technological leap, redefining how the country captures its population data. For Generation G and Generation Alpha (those born after 2010), it will be the first Census conducted through digital platforms—a sharp departure from the paper-heavy exercises of the past.The process begins with house-listing operations this month, while detailed population data will be collected in 2027. This transition marks a decisive shift from the 2011 Census in united Andhra Pradesh (including present Telangana), where enumerators relied entirely on paper forms to record household and individual information. The scale of that operation was staggering. Nearly 300 tonnes of paper was used, with records stored in large warehouses for close to eight years. Data processing was slow and often stretched over years, with reports submitted long after the enumeration phase. In 2018, authorities initiated the disposal of this massive paper stock. “The paper was sold for about Rs 57 lakh and then it was entirely converted into pulp also, making it good practice,” sources said. The next Census, originally scheduled for 2021, was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Earlier, in the run-up to the 2011 Census, the Census directorate in Hyderabad had announced that the entire stock of paper would be auctioned, with a top bidder from Pune eventually acquiring it. The manpower involved was equally significant. The 2011 Census engaged around 33,000 supervisors and over one lakh volunteers. In contrast, the upcoming exercise in Telangana is expected to involve about 80,000 volunteers, but with a far more streamlined, technology-driven approach. Updated on portalOfficials say paper will now be used sparingly, limited to remote areas where internet access remains a challenge. “Even the little data collected on paper must be promptly updated on the portal, under the supervision of mandal-level officers,” sources said. The shift to digital is not merely about convenience. It represents a broader transformation in governance—reducing delays, improving accuracy, and enabling real-time data access, officials explained. What once required tonnes of paper, years of storage and prolonged processing will now move faster and more efficiently, reshaping how India plans, allocates resources and understands its evolving population, sources said.
