India Introduces QR Code Verification for Census Enumerators

India's census enumerators have been given identity cards with QR codes to enable residents to verify their authenticity, said Lalit Jain, Director of Census Operations (DCO), Haryana. This move comes amid resistance from several high-end gated societies to grant access to enumerators.

According to Jain, the QR code-enabled identity cards will help address concerns over enumerator genuineness, allowing residents to scan the code on the ID card for verification.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has informed Parliament that every resident is legally bound to answer census-related questions to the best of their knowledge or belief, as per Section 8(2) of the Census Act, 1948.

The census exercise, which started on April 1, will conclude by September 30 across the country, with around 30 lakh enumerators engaged in the exercise. The self-enumeration option will be available for the second phase of the Census, which is the Population Enumeration to be done in February 2027.

The immediate next steps include the continuation of door-to-door visits by enumerators in various states and union territories, with the self-enumeration portal remaining open for the second phase of the Census. The court is not involved in this case, but the government will continue to engage with local authorities and residents to ensure a smooth census exercise.