India is undertaking one of the world’s largest geospatial exercises by moving towards a digitally enabled census. Unlike earlier censuses, where information was collected manually and digitised later, the present exercise brings GIS, satellite imagery and navigation technologies directly into the data-collection process.
The introduction of self-enumeration is an important step. Citizens can submit their household and population details through an online portal before an enumerator visits. However, the reported participation remains very low.
One reason is that users are expected to identify their houses on satellite imagery. For someone familiar with digital maps, this may look simple. But expecting every citizen to locate a rooftop accurately is unrealistic, particularly in rural areas, informal settlements and high-rise apartment complexes.
There are also concerns about implementation on the ground. Enumerators have been provided with mobile applications to record locations and other details. Yet, if information is first written on paper and entered later, the purpose of capturing accurate, real-time spatial data is weakened.
The reported mapping issue along the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh also deserves attention. Although it was corrected quickly, it raises a larger question about the choice of base maps. This could have been an opportunity to integrate indigenous mapping platforms with stronger familiarity with Indian geography and administrative boundaries.
The good news is that the census is being implemented in phases. Therefore, it is not too late to refine the process. States yet to begin should conduct strict pilot exercises, ensure that enumerators use the application properly and identify problems before wider implementation.
The integration of DIGIPIN could also simplify location identification. Instead of asking citizens to visually locate their rooftops, a geographical code could help identify locations more accurately, particularly where conventional addresses are unclear. At the same time, stronger public awareness and enumerator training are essential. Technology alone cannot deliver results without adequate geospatial literacy.
The importance of this exercise goes far beyond counting people. With appropriate privacy safeguards, geospatially tagged population data could become a foundational layer for planning infrastructure, public services, disaster response and economic development.
India aims to develop a digital twin of the country by 2035. Accurate information on where people live would provide the crucial human layer within this digital representation.
The scale of the census is extraordinary. India has already taken the difficult step of attempting it. The priority now should be to identify the gaps, correct them during the ongoing process and ensure that this once-in-a-decade opportunity is used effectively.