The state is set to launch its massive census operation this April, marking the beginning of a two-phase exercise. Census Director Nikhil Pawan Kalyan confirmed the timeline following a high-level coordination meeting at Lok Seva Bhavan.
The first phase, scheduled for April and May, will focus on house listing and housing data. The second phase, involving a door-to-door population count, will follow in February 2027. Preparations have been underway for six months, with boundary finalizations for new NACs and municipalities already complete.
To ensure accuracy, the government will appoint approximately 1 lakh census officers, with one officer assigned to every 200 houses. Supervisors will oversee groups of six officers. Appointed personnel will undergo three months of intensive training and receive a financial incentive of ₹25,000.
Following successful pre-tests in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, the state is now entering the final mobilization stage for this decadal exercise.