In a first, private technical staff set to assist officials in digital Census, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• Private technical staff will assist government officials in the Population Census 2027, enabling faster data release.
• The Census 2027 first phase starts on April 1 and concludes on September 30, marking India's first digital census.
• Enumerators will use mobile apps on personal phones for data capture, supported by the Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS).
• Technical Assistants will receive a maximum monthly remuneration of ₹25,000, and MTS will receive ₹18,000.
• Approximately 31 lakh government official enumerators will be engaged, each surveying 750-800 people and receiving an honorarium of ₹25,000.

Detailed Insights:

• The digital census aims to digitize data collection from the field using mobile applications and web portals.
• Hired technical manpower will assist Census officials, with recruitment through outsourcing agencies for a maximum of 18 months.
• States are provided with a one-time grant for IT infrastructure, ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh at different levels.
• The engagement of manpower is purely contractual, with no claims for regularization or further government appointments.
• Retired government officials may be considered for hiring, subject to meeting the suitability criteria for the work.
• The Registrar-General and Census Commissioner of India (RG&CCI) is overseeing the implementation of these measures.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Census: A complete enumeration of a population, usually recording details of individuals.
• Enumerator: An individual responsible for collecting data during a census.
• Outsourcing: Contracting work to an external organization or third party.