<h3>Overview</h3> <p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Chief Justice of India — the head of the Indian judiciary and the Supreme Court, responsible for judicial administration (GS2: Polity)">Chief Justice of India (CJI)</span> <strong>Surya Kant</strong> finished the self‑enumeration of his household for <strong>Phase I</strong> of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Census of India — the decennial exercise conducted by the Government to collect demographic, social and economic data, essential for policy planning (GS1: Indian Society & Demography)">Census of India</span> 2027. The exercise was carried out at his official residence using the government’s <span class="key-term" data-definition="Self‑Enumeration Portal — an online platform that allows citizens to enter their own household data for the census, enhancing accuracy and participation (GS3: Technology & E‑Governance)">Self‑Enumeration Portal</span> (https://se.census.gov.in). This marks a visible endorsement of the country’s first fully <span class="key-term" data-definition="Digital Census — the use of electronic tools and online interfaces for data collection in the census, reducing paper‑based processes (GS3: Technology & E‑Governance)">digital census</span>. </p> <h3>Key Developments</h3> <ul> <li>On <strong>4 April 2026</strong>, the CJI recorded his household details online, completing the self‑enumeration for <span class="key-term" data-definition="Phase I Houselisting and Housing Census — the first phase of the Census 2027 focusing on counting houses and basic household characteristics (GS1: Demography)">Phase I Houselisting and Housing Census</span>.</li> <li>The Census authorities hailed the act as a “significant milestone” and urged citizens to follow suit.</li> <li>The official communication highlighted the portal’s security and convenience, positioning it as a model of civic responsibility.</li> </ul> <h3>Important Facts</h3> <ul> <li>The 2027 Census will be conducted in multiple phases, with Phase I focusing on housing and basic demographic data.</li> <li>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Self‑Enumeration Portal — an online platform that allows citizens to enter their own household data for the census, enhancing accuracy and participation (GS3: Technology & E‑Governance)">Self‑Enumeration Portal</span> is a secure, password‑protected system designed to minimise manual errors.</li> <li>Participation by high‑profile officials is intended to build public trust and accelerate digital adoption.</li> <li>The initiative aligns with the government’s broader agenda of creating a data‑empowered "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India).</li> </ul> <h3>UPSC Relevance</h3> <p>Understanding the census process is crucial for GS‑1 (Indian Society & Demography) as it provides the primary data source for population trends, urbanisation, and socio‑economic indicators. The role of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Chief Justice of India — the head of