The Ministry of Home Affairs notified the Census (Amendment) Rules, 2026, on 16 October 2026, expanding the eligibility criteria for appointing Census enumerators to ensure a wider pool of personnel for Census operations.
- Eligible candidates: Teachers from government, aided and private educational institutions; government officials and clerks; local authority staff; and personnel from PSUs, banks, statutory bodies, companies, societies and trusts.
- Additional provision: State and Union Territory administrations may appoint any other person they consider suitable as an enumerator.
- Role of enumerators: Visit households, collect demographic, social and economic data, and ensure accurate population counting.
- Legal framework: Census Act, 1948.
- Census frequency: Once every 10 years.
- Last Census: 2011. The 2021 Census was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
