Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah unveiled two mascots, Pragati and Vikas, for Census of India 2027 on 5 March 2026 in New Delhi. The mascots represent female and male census enumerators and are intended to make information about the national census more accessible and citizen-friendly.
During the same event, Amit Shah also soft-launched four digital tools designed to support census operations. These include the Houselisting Block Creator Web Application, HLO Mobile Application, Self-Enumeration Portal and Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS) Portal. The initiative is part of India’s preparations for its first digitally conducted census, which will also introduce an option for eligible households to submit their information through self-enumeration.
Census 2027 is an important national exercise because census information helps governments understand population characteristics, housing conditions and demographic changes. The collected data supports public administration, development planning and evidence-based policymaking.
Key Highlights of Pragati and Vikas Mascots
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Unveiling of Census 2027 mascots |
| Mascot names | Pragati and Vikas |
| Unveiled by | Amit Shah |
| Date | 5 March 2026 |
| Venue | New Delhi |
| Ministry | Ministry of Home Affairs |
| Government department | Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India |
| Female mascot | Pragati |
| Male mascot | Vikas |
| Main purpose | Public awareness and citizen-friendly communication |
| Census year | 2027 |
Who Are Pragati and Vikas?
Pragati and Vikas are the official mascots introduced to represent the census enumeration process. They are designed to provide familiar and approachable faces for communicating the objectives, procedures and importance of Census 2027.
Pragati: Female Census Enumerator
Pragati represents a female census enumerator. Her role as a mascot highlights women’s participation in the nationwide census exercise and helps communicate census-related information to the public.
The name Pragati is associated with progress. Through the mascot, the government aims to communicate information about Census 2027 in a way that is understandable to people from different backgrounds.
Vikas: Male Census Enumerator
Vikas represents a male census enumerator. Like Pragati, he is intended to help communicate the census process and encourage public understanding and participation. The two mascots together symbolize the equal participation of women and men in the national census exercise. They also reflect the government’s stated vision of making India a developed nation by 2047.
Important for competitive exams: Pragati is the female enumerator mascot, while Vikas is the male enumerator mascot for Census 2027.
What Is Census of India 2027?
The Census of India is a nationwide exercise that collects information about the country’s population and relevant demographic, social and economic characteristics. It is conducted under the administrative framework of the Government of India.
Census information is important for understanding how India’s population changes over time, including its distribution across states, districts, rural areas and urban centres. Information about housing and household amenities also helps authorities understand living conditions.
The Government of India formally notified its intention to conduct Census 2027 through a Gazette Notification dated 16 June 2025.
Census 2027 is notable because it introduces digital data collection and an option for self-enumeration. Digital tools are intended to support field operations, improve monitoring and reduce dependence on traditional paper-based processes.
Four Digital Tools Launched for Census 2027
Along with unveiling Pragati and Vikas, Amit Shah soft-launched four digital tools developed to facilitate census operations. The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) developed the digital platforms.
| Digital tool | Main function |
|---|---|
| Houselisting Block Creator (HLBC) Web Application | Uses web maps and satellite imagery to create standardized houselisting blocks |
| HLO Mobile Application | Enables authorized enumerators to collect and upload houselisting information |
| Self-Enumeration Portal | Allows eligible household respondents to submit information online before field enumeration |
| Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS) Portal | Supports census planning, execution, monitoring and progress tracking |
1. Houselisting Block Creator Web Application
The HLBC application is a web-based mapping tool that helps authorized officials create houselisting blocks using satellite imagery. These blocks support systematic geographic coverage and help organize field operations.
Standardized mapping is important for ensuring that enumeration teams have clearly defined areas to cover.
2. HLO Mobile Application
The Houselisting and Housing Census mobile application is designed for authorized enumerators. It supports the digital collection and uploading of household and housing information.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the application supports offline data collection and is compatible with Android and iOS devices. It can operate in 16 regional languages and is restricted to registered enumerators.
3. Self-Enumeration Portal
Self-enumeration is a new feature introduced for Census 2027. It allows eligible respondents within a household to submit household information through a secure online portal before the field enumeration period. After successful submission, the portal generates a unique Self-Enumeration ID. The ID can then be shared with the enumerator to help verify the submitted information.
Self-enumeration is an option provided under the official process; it does not mean that the census exercise will rely exclusively on online submissions.
4. Census Management and Monitoring System Portal
The CMMS Portal is a centralized digital platform for managing and monitoring census-related activities. Officials at sub-district, district and state levels can use integrated dashboards to track operational readiness, enumeration progress and field performance.
The system is intended to support coordination across administrative levels and provide better visibility into the progress of census operations.
Census 2027: Two Phases of Enumeration
Census 2027 is planned around two principal phases. Each phase collects a different category of information.
| Phase | Name | Main information collected |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) | Housing conditions and household amenities |
| Phase 2 | Population Enumeration (PE) | Demographic, social and economic particulars of individuals |
Phase 1: Houselisting and Housing Census
The first phase focuses on housing and household information. This includes details needed to understand housing conditions and the availability of household amenities. The official schedule initially announced a 30-day continuous houselisting period for each state or Union Territory within the broader period from 1 April to 30 September 2026, preceded by an optional 15-day self-enumeration window.
Actual dates and subsequent schedule changes must be checked against the relevant state or Union Territory notifications on the official Census of India website.
Phase 2: Population Enumeration
The second phase focuses on individual-level demographic, social and economic information. The original national schedule announced February 2027 for population enumeration, with different timing for Ladakh and specified snow-bound areas.
The government has also confirmed that caste-related questions will be included in the second phase. For the latest operational dates, candidates should consult current official notifications because schedules may be revised for particular states or regions.
Why Are Census Data Important?
Census data helps governments and public institutions understand population distribution and changing demographic patterns. It can support planning across several areas.
- Public policy: Population information provides an evidence base for designing and evaluating public programmes.
- Infrastructure planning: Data about where people live helps authorities assess requirements for roads, housing and other public infrastructure.
- Education and healthcare: Population characteristics can inform planning for schools, healthcare facilities and public services.
- Housing and amenities: Houselisting information helps document housing conditions and household facilities.
- Demographic research: Census information supports analysis of population distribution and changes over time.
- Administrative planning: Official population statistics can inform a range of government planning and administrative processes.
Census data is one important source of information for decision-making. Its usefulness depends on accurate enumeration, sound data processing and appropriate interpretation.
Census 2027: Important Facts for Competitive Exams
Candidates preparing for SSC, RRB, UPSC, banking and state-level competitive examinations should remember these facts:
- Pragati and Vikas are the mascots for Census 2027.
- Pragati represents a female enumerator.
- Vikas represents a male enumerator.
- Amit Shah unveiled the mascots on 5 March 2026 in New Delhi.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs is the responsible ministry.
- The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, is the relevant census authority.
- C-DAC developed the digital platforms introduced for census operations.
- Census 2027 introduces digital data collection and self-enumeration.
- The four digital tools include HLBC, HLO Mobile Application, Self-Enumeration Portal and CMMS Portal.
- Census 2027 has two principal phases: Houselisting and Housing Census, followed by Population Enumeration.
- Caste-related questions are to be included in the second phase.
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Conclusion
The unveiling of Pragati and Vikas marks an important public-awareness initiative for Census of India 2027. The two mascots represent female and male enumerators and are intended to make census-related communication more accessible to citizens. The launch of four digital tools also reflects the introduction of technology into census operations, including digital houselisting, mobile data collection, self-enumeration and centralized monitoring.
For competitive-exam candidates, the most important facts are the mascot names and roles, the launch date, the Ministry of Home Affairs, C-DAC’s role and the four digital tools. Together, these developments form an important part of India’s preparations for Census 2027.
