DPI Brief — April 01, 2026

Today’s DPI Updates (7 Layers)

L1: Identity & Authentication

Census 2027: Digital Self-Enumeration Goes Live

The Union Government has launched India’s first digital self-enumeration portal for Census 2027, marking a significant shift in how population data is collected. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan has written to all ministries and departments urging officials to self-enumerate through the dedicated portal (https://se.census.gov.in), which will go live from April 1, 2026. The portal enables citizens to submit household details 15 days before enumerators begin house-to-house visits. This initiative represents a convergence of L1 (identity infrastructure) with L6 (governance systems), leveraging Aadhaar-linked databases to streamline the verification process while maintaining data security. The exercise will be conducted in two phases—houslisting from April to September 2026, with population enumeration in early 2027.¹

L2: Payments & Financial Rails

Revolut Expands India Tech Hub to 40% of Global Workforce

European fintech giant Revolut announced plans to base approximately 40% of its global workforce in India by the end of 2026, expanding its global capability centre (GCC) in Bengaluru. The company will add 1,600 roles through 2026, taking its India headcount to 5,500. This development is significant for India’s DPI ecosystem as Revolut’s India operations now handle about one-third of the company’s global processes, including routine transaction monitoring and AI-based fraud detection. Notably, innovations developed in India, such as video-based KYC systems, are being exported to other markets. This represents a vote of confidence in India’s digital infrastructure and talent pool for building next-generation payment systems.²

Tata Communications Launches IZO™ Data Centre Dynamic Connectivity

Tata Communications unveiled IZO™ Data Centre Dynamic Connectivity, a software-defined platform designed to transform enterprise data centre connectivity. While not exclusively a payment platform, this infrastructure enhancement directly supports the high-bandwidth, low-latency requirements of digital payment systems and fintech operations. The platform addresses the growing demands of AI-driven and distributed computing environments that underpin modern payment rails.³

L3: Documents & Data Exchange

No significant updates in the last 24 hours.

L4: Commerce & Logistics

WTO E-Commerce Moratorium Expires—Implications for Digital Trade

The global e-commerce moratorium on customs duties for digital transmissions expired at the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference in Cameroon, after talks between the US and India failed to reach agreement. India had signaled willingness to accept a two-year extension, while the US pushed for a longer duration. This development has significant implications for India’s digital commerce ecosystem, including platforms like ONDC and GeM. The expiry could potentially open new tariff considerations for digital goods and services, though discussions will continue in Geneva. This represents a critical moment for India’s position in global digital trade frameworks.⁴

L5: Sectoral Infrastructure

No significant updates in the last 24 hours.

L6: Governance & Grievance

Census 2027 Digital Transformation (Covered under L1)

The digital Census initiative spans both L1 and L6 layers, demonstrating the convergence of identity infrastructure with governance systems. The self-enumeration portal represents a major e-governance milestone, allowing citizens to directly interact with government data collection systems. All responses will be recorded digitally rather than on paper, marking a complete shift from traditional census methodologies.

L7: Security, Privacy & Trust

WTO Digital Trade Framework Developments (Covered under L4)

The expiry of the e-commerce moratorium and the stalled WTO talks also impact the L7 trust layer. The inability to extend the tariff-free framework for digital transmissions creates uncertainty for cross-border digital trade and could affect how Indian digital platforms operate internationally. The situation underscores the need for robust domestic digital trade policies as global frameworks evolve.

Sources