The first phase of Census 2027, focusing on house listing and housing, is set to kick off in Nagaland in July 2026, as per officials. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio highlighted the importance of Census 2027 during a meeting in Kohima, emphasizing its significance for the state. He urged elected representatives and political leaders to ensure responsible leadership to address discrepancies in population growth rates.
Rio raised concerns about inflated census data affecting areas like Aadhaar coverage and school enrolment figures, stressing the need to prevent multiple entries during the enumeration process. Referring to Nagaland as a predominantly Christian state, the Chief Minister urged all to prioritize honesty and integrity over wrongful practices during the census. Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen underscored the necessity of conducting an accurate census for effective planning and implementation of government projects.
Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha provided an overview of Census 2027, followed by a detailed presentation by Director of Census Operations Zasekuolie Chusi on the methodology and challenges involved. Chusi urged participants to ensure a clean and accurate census by avoiding duplicate entries and population figure inflation. He emphasized the importance of reliable census data for policy formulation and developmental planning, highlighting its significance beyond a mere headcount exercise.
Deputy Chief Ministers T.R. Zeliang and Yanthungo Patton, Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker Sharingain Longkumer, Cabinet Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly, and senior officials also attended the meeting.
