Phase 1 of 2027 Census Successfully Completed in 23 States and Union Territories
The first phase of the 2027 Census, focused on house listing and housing data, has been successfully completed in 23 states and Union territories. The exercise is transitioning to a digital format, with the secondary population enumeration phase scheduled to begin in February 2027.
Highlights
- •The first phase of the 2027 Census, focusing on house listing, is complete in 23 states and Union territories.
- •A digital-first approach is being implemented, utilizing a mobile app and a self-enumeration website for the first time.
- •Field enumerators are collecting data on 33 specific questions regarding housing and household details during door-to-door visits.
- •The second phase of the census, covering population demographics and caste-related data, is scheduled for February 2027.
The first stage of the 2027 Census, which focuses on house listing and housing data collection, has been successfully concluded across 23 states and Union territories. This massive national undertaking, officially termed the House Listing and Housing Census (HLO), marks a significant step in updating demographic and residential data for the country.
Government officials confirmed that while the majority of regions have completed the initial phase, a specialized 15-day self-enumeration window is currently active for residents in Kerala and Nagaland. This period will be immediately followed by standard field operations starting July 1 and running through July 30. Similar field exercises are already in progress in states such as Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and the territories of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Puducherry.
Digital Transformation of the 2027 Census
A notable feature of this year's 2027 Census is the transition to a fully digital format. Enumerators are utilizing a specifically designed mobile application to streamline data collection, moving away from traditional paper-based methods. For the first time, citizens are encouraged to participate via a dedicated self-enumeration web portal. Residents who complete this online process are advised to keep their generated self-enumeration ID ready to provide to field officials during house-to-house verifications, ensuring a faster and more efficient experience.
Households that choose not to opt for the digital self-enumeration platform will still be covered through traditional, physical door-to-door visits. During these interactions, enumerators are tasked with collecting detailed information by asking 33 specific questions. These inquiries cover a range of subjects, including basic home facilities, the identity and sex of the household head, and property ownership status. This comprehensive 2027 Census project, with an allocated budget of Rs 11,718 crore, represents the eighth such national exercise since the country gained Independence.
The entire HLO phase is scheduled to conclude by September 30. Following this, the second major phase, which involves detailed population enumeration, is set to commence in February of the upcoming year. This second stage will capture deeper demographic, social, and economic particulars, and is expected to include specific questions regarding caste for the first time. The official reference date for the majority of the nation is set for March 1, 2027, though specific high-altitude and snow-bound regions, such as parts of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, have been assigned an earlier reference date of October 1, 2026, to accommodate climatic conditions.
