Charge UPSC relevant
A charge is the intermediate census jurisdiction between the district and the block — typically a tehsil/taluk/community development block in rural areas or a town/municipal ward area in urban areas — headed by a Charge Officer.
Charge Officers for Census 2027 are generally the SDM, Tehsildar, Mamlatdar, Block Development Officer, Municipal Secretary, Ward Officer or Executive Officer of the area; above them sit Principal Census Officers (DM/DC/Municipal Corporation Commissioner) and, at the top, the State Chief Secretary and the RGI. The Charge Officer appoints and manages enumerators and supervisors, and in 2027 has a new digital duty: creating houselisting blocks on satellite imagery through the HLBC web application.
The official FAQ tells households not covered by any enumerator to contact their Charge Officer.