NEW DELHI, April 1 (Xinhua) -- India on Wednesday began a nationwide census after years of delay, officials said.
The census is being conducted digitally for the first time.
India's federal home ministry's office of the registrar general and census commissioner rolled out online self-enumeration for many states, including the national capital territory of Delhi, to allow citizens to provide their household information online before an enumerator visits. The online portal will remain open until April 15.
According to officials, the house listing and housing census will begin on April 16 and will be carried out until May 15.
In the second phase, information on demographic, socio-economic, education, migration, fertility, etc., will be collected from each individual by the enumerators, officials said.
About 3.1 million Indian government employees are reportedly to spend a year in a staggered manner to complete the task.
The last census of India was conducted in 2011, and the once-in-a-decade population count due in 2021 was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. ■