Kanpur: District magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh on Saturday urged citizens to provide correct and complete information during Census 2027, assuring that all personal data collected would remain secure and confidential.He emphasised that information shared during the census is protected under the Census Act, 1948 and is neither made public nor admissible as evidence in any court of law. “Reliable census data helps the government assess ground realities and frame effective policies,” he said.Highlighting legal safeguards, the DM said Section 8 of the Act makes it mandatory for citizens to answer census questions truthfully, while Section 15 ensures that personal data cannot be accessed or inspected by individuals or authorities. He added that such data cannot be used in civil or criminal proceedings.He also clarified that census data is exempt from disclosure under the Right to Information Act, 2005, particularly Section 8(1)(j), which protects individual privacy. “The data is neither made public nor shared in an individualised form with any person or department,” he said.Providing details of the process, Singh said the first phase of Census 2027 will include a self-enumeration facility from May 7 to May 21, allowing citizens to submit their details online through the official portal. This will be followed by house-listing and door-to-door data collection by enumerators from May 22 to June 20.He added that individuals will be counted based on their place and status of residence at the time of enumeration. The process will make extensive use of digital technology to ensure secure data collection and storage.Reiterating his appeal, the DM urged residents to cooperate fully and provide accurate information for the successful conduct of the census.
