Bhatkal: The Registrar General and Census Commission of India, functioning under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, has issued orders for the upcoming Census exercise. Accordingly, the first phase will be conducted from April 1 to April 15, during which house listing will be carried out and individuals will be provided the facility for self-enumeration through an online platform. Citizens will be able to submit details such as house particulars, name, address, educational qualifications and mobile number, along with responses to a total of 34 questions, from the comfort of their homes.
This will be followed by the second stage from April 16 to May 15, when enumerators — a majority of whom are school teachers — will undertake door-to-door visits to verify the data submitted and to collect details of households and individuals left uncovered during the first phase.
The next major phase of the Census is expected to commence in February 2027. Senior officials from the Revenue Department will serve as nodal officers for the exercise, while teachers will shoulder field-level responsibilities.
With the academic year 2025–2026 nearing completion and summer vacations just weeks away, teachers are set to remain engaged during the break as they prepare for and participate in the Census operations.
Notably, the data compiled through this Census will form the basis for delimitation, seat allocation and reservation for the 2028 Karnataka Assembly elections and the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Sources indicate that an increase in the number of Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies is also likely, potentially altering the political landscape of the state and the country.
Meanwhile, there is a possibility of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being initiated in Karnataka during April or May, though no formal orders have been issued yet. If undertaken, the responsibility is again expected to fall largely on teachers, adding to their workload.
The state government is also preparing to conduct Gram Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat and Zilla Panchayat elections in May. Officials indicate that if the SIR process is launched simultaneously, it could impact the schedule of local body polls. However, the government currently appears inclined to proceed with elections based on the existing electoral rolls.
On the political front, the ongoing session of the State Legislative Assembly is scheduled to conclude on March 27. A meeting of the Congress Legislature Party is slated for March 25, followed by a Cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on March 27, where key decisions regarding by-elections and local body polls are expected.