August 14, 2026|CoreSignal
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Self-Enumeration Portal Faces OTP and CAPTCHA Issues in West Bengal, with users unable to proceed with the online Census 2027 Self-Enumeration process due to problems during CAPTCHA verification and, in some cases, OTP and repeated-verification issues.
CoreSignal’s testing found that the CAPTCHA problem appears to be specific to the West Bengal selection on the portal. When we tested the same Self-Enumeration login page by selecting several other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, the CAPTCHA loaded normally. However, after selecting West Bengal, the CAPTCHA remained stuck on “Loading…”, preventing users from proceeding to the next stage.
The problem is particularly concerning because August 15, 2026, is the last date for Self-Enumeration in West Bengal.
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The Self-Enumeration facility for Census 2027 allows households to submit their house-listing and housing information online before the enumerator visits their residence. In West Bengal, the online window is scheduled to remain open until August 15, 2026.
OTP Delays and CAPTCHA Problems Reported
As the deadline approaches, some users are reporting difficulties accessing or completing the Self-Enumeration process.
User reports on a Kolkata community forum over the past few days describe problems including OTP delays, CAPTCHA not loading, repeated verification requests, district-selection issues and temporary account blocking. Some users said OTPs arrived several minutes after being requested, while others reported that the CAPTCHA failed to appear. These are user reports and should not be interpreted as an official government confirmation of a system-wide outage.
The issue is not entirely unexpected given that CAPTCHA and OTP verification are built into the official Self-Enumeration process. The official Census user guide instructs users to complete a CAPTCHA before proceeding and then verify their registered mobile number through an OTP.
West Bengal Portal Shows “Application is not available”
In another test conducted by CoreSignal at 11:00 hrs, 15 August 2026, the Self-Enumeration portal displayed an “Application is not available” message instead of the normal login page.
The error page states that the application is “currently not serving requests at this endpoint” and lists several possible technical causes, including the host not existing, the route not having a matching path, or the route being available while all application pods are down.
This is different from the CAPTCHA problem observed earlier and indicates that users may encounter more than one technical failure while trying to access the Self-Enumeration service.
What the Census Department Says About the Process
The official Self-Enumeration portal requires users to select their State or Union Territory and complete CAPTCHA verification. They then register the household using the name of the head of household and a mobile number.
After selecting the preferred language, an OTP is sent to the registered mobile number for verification. The official guide specifically advises users to ensure that their phone has proper network connectivity to receive the OTP.
After successful verification, users have to provide their residential location, mark their house on a digital map and answer the household questionnaire. Once the information is submitted successfully, a Self-Enumeration ID (SE ID) is generated, which must be retained for verification by the enumerator.
CAPTCHA Issue Also Seen During the Initial Rollout
The technical complaints are not limited to social-media or community reports.
During the initial rollout of Self-Enumeration in West Bengal, The Times of India reported that the process generally went smoothly, but some respondents experienced minor difficulties with the CAPTCHA and locating their residence on the digital map.
This indicates that while the portal has been functioning for many users, certain users have encountered technical obstacles during the process.
Why OTP May Not Arrive Immediately
An OTP delay does not necessarily mean that the user’s mobile number is incorrect. Possible reasons can include network problems, SMS delivery delays or temporary load on the authentication system.
The official Census user guide recommends ensuring proper mobile network connectivity when waiting for the OTP.
Users should avoid repeatedly requesting OTPs within a short period. If an OTP arrives late, entering an older code after requesting another OTP may also result in verification failure.
What to Do If CAPTCHA Is Not Loading
If the CAPTCHA is not appearing, users can try the following:
- Refresh the page and wait for the CAPTCHA to load.
- Check whether the internet connection is stable.
- Try another browser.
- If using a mobile browser, try enabling Desktop Site.
- Clear the browser cache if the problem continues.
- Avoid repeatedly refreshing the page within a short period.
- Try again during a less congested period.
These are practical troubleshooting measures, not instructions issued as a specific technical fix by the Census authorities.
Self-Enumeration Is Optional
Importantly, Self-Enumeration is an additional facility and not a replacement for the door-to-door Census operation.
The official Census material describes Self-Enumeration as a process through which residents can submit their household information online before the enumerator’s visit. Enumerators will subsequently conduct the field operation and verify the submitted information.
Therefore, a resident who is unable to complete the online process because of technical difficulties should not assume that their household will automatically be excluded from the Census.
August 15 Is the Deadline in West Bengal
For West Bengal, the Self-Enumeration window is running from August 1 to August 15, 2026. The window was extended by one day from the earlier August 14 deadline.
With the deadline approaching, users facing technical problems should attempt the process as early as possible rather than waiting until the final hours.
Use Only the Official Census Portal
Residents should access Self-Enumeration only through the official government portal:
Census Self-Enumeration Portal
The official portal itself confirms that users must complete CAPTCHA verification and subsequently enter an OTP to begin Self-Enumeration.
Important: Never Share Your OTP
Residents should also be careful about fraud. Census authorities in West Bengal have warned people not to share OTP, bank details or documents with anyone claiming to be a Census official. Authorities have specifically said that people should verify the identity of enumerators and remain alert to fraudsters.
Core fact: Reports of OTP and CAPTCHA problems are currently based partly on user experiences, while official and mainstream reports confirm that some users have experienced CAPTCHA-related hiccups. It would therefore be inaccurate to state that the entire Self-Enumeration portal is officially “down” unless the Census authorities issue such a confirmation.
