India, Sept. 5 -- The Registrar General of India (RGI) has directed customs authorities not to issue clearances for Indian mercantile ships plying to foreign countries on the Census reference date until their crew members and boarders are fully counted.

The six-page order issued by Census Commissioner Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan on "enumeration of boats, ships, and sea-going vessels during the population enumeration phase of Census 2027" said it was customary to cover them to avoid omission.

On Indian mercantile ships plying between India and foreign countries, he said persons onboard, including foreigners, on such ships will be enumerated only if they are at an Indian port at 00:00 hours on the reference date.

The census reference date i...