Census-2027 digital tools and mascots launched: Pragati, Vikas and first fully digital caste-inclusive exercise since 1931

Direct fact

In March 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched digital tools and two mascots, Pragati and Vikas, for Census-2027 in New Delhi, ahead of India’s first fully digital, caste-inclusive Census since 1931.

Key specifics

• Pragati is the female mascot and Vikas is the male mascot for Census-2027.
• The launch took place in New Delhi on 5 March 2026.
• The Census-2027 exercise is described as the first fully digital, caste-inclusive Census since 1931.
• The digital tools include a self-enumeration portal, a mobile application, and a public dashboard.
• The system will use multilingual and accessibility features to support inclusion across linguistic barriers.

Exam lens

Polity and governance question type: match the following or statement-based MCQ, Amit Shah, Census-2027, Pragati, Vikas, 1931, self-enumeration portal. TNPSC may ask which census is being planned as the first fully digital and caste-inclusive exercise since 1931.