New Delhi: For the first time, private technical personnel will be brought in to support government officials during the Population Census 2027 for enabling the “release of Census data in the shortest possible time”, official sources told The Hindu. Digital tools like mobile applications will be used to collect and manage population data.The first phase of the Census is scheduled to begin on April 1 and will continue until September 30. As per the report, enumerators, mostly government school teachers and other public officials will record information through mobile applications installed on their personal smartphones.In a letter, registrar general and census commissioner of India (RG&CCI) Mritunjay Kumar Narayan informed the state government that the Census 2027 would rely on several new digital tools, including mobile-based data apps, the Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS), the Houselisting Block Creator (HLBC) web application, and a self-enumeration portal. The objective, he said, is to ensure a “target to get the digitised data from the field itself”.To support this technology-intensive process, the Union government will allow states and Union Territories to hire technical staff on a contractual basis, who will assist Census officials in managing digital applications and related tasks.In addition, Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) will be provided for office assistance at both the state and district levels. According to the RG&CCI, “The manpower will be hired for a maximum period of 18 months starting from January 2026.”The approved staffing pattern includes four technical assistants and two MTS at the state level; two technical assistants and one MTS at the district level; two technical assistants and one MTS at municipal corporations where a principal census officer is posted; and one technical assistant at the charge or tehsil level. This arrangement will cover more than 700 districts across the country, the report mentioned.“The maximum monthly remuneration for technical assistant will be Rs 25,000 per month and for MTS Rs 18,000 per month. Apart from this amount, no other financial assistance with respect to the manpower will be provided by the Government of India,” the letter said, as per the report.It further underlined that the assistance is “purely on short-term contractual basis” and will end after 18 months, with no continuing financial or administrative liability on the Union government. Moreover, the hired staff will not have any entitlement to regularisation or future appointments in government service, nor can they claim benefits associated with casual, ad hoc, temporary or regular employment.The recruitment will be carried out only through outsourcing agencies, with all payments routed through them. Retired government officials may also be considered, provided they meet suitability requirements.For field operations, around 31 lakh enumerators, all government officials, will be deployed. Each enumerator will be responsible for covering 750 to 800 individuals and will receive an honorarium of Rs 25,000. Other Census officials, such as nodal officers and clerks, will be paid amounts ranging between Rs 30,000 and Rs 75,000.The Union Cabinet cleared the proposal for Census 2027 on December 12, 2025, approving an outlay of Rs 11,718.24 crore.