Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that Census is a national responsibility, urging citizens to self-enumerate online to ensure accurate data for planning the nation’s future.

In his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat, he noted that so far more than 2.6 crore people have entered their details on the Census portal via mobile phones, completing the self-enumeration.

“Census is a national responsibility for all of us. It is important for the nation as accurate information about you and your family helps create a precise picture of the country’s future,” he said.

The prime minister said the online self-registration facility is highly convenient, allowing citizens to easily enter information for themselves and their families directly from their mobile phones.

Along with Hindi, this facility is available in 16 regional languages, he said.

“A grand picture of the nation is currently emerging. This picture includes you, your family and even your neighbours. I am referring to India’s Census. The first phase of this exercise is nearly complete across all states and union territories,” he said.

Modi said data of over 32 crore families has already been recorded and work is currently underway also in the remote, snow-clad regions of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand.