The Central government on Thursday (January 22, 2026) notified the first phase of the Census of India 2027, formally setting the process in motion for the country’s next decadal population count. The exercise comes after a prolonged delay, with the last census having been conducted in 2011.
The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RG&CCI) has finalised 33 questions that will be asked from all residents during the House Listing and Housing Census (HLO)—the first phase of Census 2027.
According to the notification, it will be carried out from April 1 to September 30, 2026. During this phase, enumerators will visit every household across states and union territories to collect data on housing conditions, ownership status, household amenities, infrastructure, and other living arrangements.
Each region will be covered over a 30-day enumeration period. In a first, citizens will also have the option of self-enumeration, with an online window opening 15 days before the start of door-to-door surveys in their area. The government has underscored the use of digital platforms to streamline data collection and improve accuracy.
Census 2027 is being designed as a fully digital exercise—the first of its kind in India’s census history. Enumerators will use mobile applications compatible with Android and iOS devices to record data electronically. Around 30 lakh field staff are expected to be deployed nationwide for the exercise.
The information collected during the house listing and housing census will form the base for the second phase of Census 2027, the population enumeration, scheduled for February and March 2027. March 1, 2027, will serve as the reference date for most parts of the country.
Officials said the data generated will play a key role in policy formulation and planning across sectors such as housing, infrastructure, education, health, and social welfare. Given its scale and policy relevance, Census 2027 is being seen as one of the most consequential administrative exercises undertaken by the government.
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