India, March 6 -- The upcoming 16th Census (Census-2027) will be fully digital and paperless, with data collected through a mobile application and managed via the Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS), senior district officials said on Thursday.

"The exercise, which will be conducted in two phases, will use digital platforms to ensure accuracy, transparency, and faster data processing," deputy commissioner Dr. Harish Kumar Vashisht said at a press conference in Palwal.

Vashisht said the first phase in the Palwal district will run from May 1 to 31, 2026, while the second phase - called the real enumeration phase - will occur from February 9 to 28, 2027. Training for field staff is also expected to begin soon, with master trainer...