Sun, 17 May 2026
India News Updated May 17, 2026 · 12:17

Census 2027: Field Ops for Houselisting Begin in 5 States/UTs

Field operations for the Houselisting and Housing Census under Phase I of Census 2027 have commenced in Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and the MCD area of Delhi. The Self-Enumeration facility has seen over 1.44 crore households participate across 25 states and union territories. Census 2027 is using digital tools for the first time, with enumerators collecting data via a mobile application. The data collected will be used for evidence-based planning and implementation of welfare programs.

Field operations for houselisting and housing census commence in Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and MCD area of Delhi

New Delhi, May 17

The field operations for the Houselisting and Housing Census under Phase I of Census 2027 have commenced in five States and Union Territories, namely Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Municipal Corporation of Delhi area in Delhi NCT as part of the ongoing nationwide Census exercise.

Meanwhile, House-to-House Houselisting Operations by Enumerators are presently in progress in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Telangana and Uttarakhand.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Self-Enumeration (SE) facility has commenced today in Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Puducherry and will remain available till May 31. The corresponding Houselisting and Housing Census field operations in these States/UTs will be conducted from June 1 to June 30, 2026.

The Self-Enumeration facility is also currently underway in Uttar Pradesh and will continue till May 21, 2026, following which the HLO field operations will be conducted from May 22 to June 20, 2026.

Earlier, the Houselisting and Housing Census operations conducted from April 16 to May 15, were completed in the States/UTs of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha and Sikkim, along with the NDMC area and Delhi Cantonment Board area in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

The Self-Enumeration (SE) facility, introduced in Census operations, continues to receive an encouraging response from the public. More than 1.44 crore households have already completed Self-Enumeration through the official portal (se.census.gov.in) across 25 States/UTs. The initiative marks a significant step towards the digitisation of Census operations and offers residents a convenient and secure platform to participate in the Census process.

Residents who have completed Self-Enumeration are requested to keep their generated Self-Enumeration ID (SE ID) ready and share the same with the Enumerator during the field visit to complete the HLO process. Households that have not opted for Self-Enumeration will be covered during the physical house-to-house visit by Enumerators.

Census 2027 is being conducted using digital tools for the first time while retaining the traditional door-to-door enumeration process to ensure comprehensive and accurate coverage. During field visits, Enumerators are collecting data digitally through a dedicated mobile application.

During this phase, information relating to housing conditions, household details, amenities available and assets possessed by households is being collected through a structured questionnaire comprising 33 notified questions. The data collected form an important basis for evidence-based planning and implementation of welfare and development programmes.

All data collected under the Census Act, 1948, remains strictly confidential and is used solely for statistical purposes and development planning. Residents in the notified States/UTs are requested to extend full cooperation to Enumerators during the Houselisting Operations and actively participate in this important national exercise.

— ANI

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Reader Comments

J
James A
Interesting to see the phased rollout across states. I'm in Maharashtra, so I'll be getting a visit soon. The 33 questions about housing and amenities sound thorough—hope all this data actually leads to better planning for infrastructure and housing schemes.
K
Kavya N
Over 1.44 crore households already self-enumerated? That's impressive! Really shows people are willing to participate when it's made convenient. Just hope the privacy concerns are addressed properly—the Census Act says data is confidential, but in today's digital age, people are understandably cautious.
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Sarah B
This is a massive logistical exercise! Kudos to the enumerators who have to go door-to-door across such diverse terrains—from Rajasthan's deserts to Meghalaya's hills. Hope they get proper support and compensation for their hard work. My only concern: will the digital app work smoothly in remote areas with poor connectivity? 📱
A
Ananya R
One thing I hope is that this census data helps us better understand housing shortages, especially in urban areas like Delhi. The MCD area in Delhi is huge and has so many informal settlements—proper enumeration there can really help shape housing policy. Hope the enumerators are trained to handle sensitive situations with empathy.
V
Vikram M
Self-enumeration is convenient, but I worry about data duplication or errors if people fill it incorrectly. The system of having a SE ID to share with enumerators is a good safeguard though. I just did mine in UP—took about 15 minutes, very straightforward. 🤞

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