The field operations for the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO), which forms Phase I of Census 2027, will begin on April 16, 2026, across eight States and Union Territories, including Goa. The exercise will also cover the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, and Sikkim, along with the NDMC area and Delhi Cantonment Board in the National Capital Territory.
The rollout follows the conclusion of a 15-day Self-Enumeration period and will continue for 30 days, ending May 15, 2026. During this period, trained enumerators will conduct house-to-house visits to collect data.
The Self-Enumeration facility, introduced for the first time in the Census process, has received a strong response. Around 12 lakh households have already used the online system through the official portal. The initiative is part of a broader digital approach being adopted for Census 2027.
Officials said the facility was made available ahead of field operations to allow residents to submit their details online through a secure and user-friendly platform. The move is being seen as a step toward modernising Census operations while offering convenience and flexibility to participants.
Residents who have completed Self-Enumeration have been asked to keep their Self-Enumeration ID ready and share it with enumerators during field visits to complete the process. Households that have not opted for the online method will be covered through physical visits.
For the first time, the Census will use digital tools alongside the traditional door-to-door approach. Enumerators will use a dedicated mobile application to collect data, which is expected to improve accuracy and speed up processing.
During the Houselisting and Housing Census phase, enumerators will collect details related to housing conditions, household composition, amenities, and assets. The data will be gathered through a structured questionnaire containing 33 notified questions.
Authorities said this phase forms a key foundation for evidence-based planning and the formulation of welfare and development programmes.
In the next phase of the rollout, the Self-Enumeration facility will open on April 16, 2026, in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, and will remain available until April 30, 2026. Field operations in these regions will take place from May 1 to May 30, 2026.
In Bihar, the Self-Enumeration period will begin on April 17, 2026, and continue until May 1, followed by field operations from May 2 to May 31.
Officials reiterated that all data collected under the Census Act, 1948, will remain strictly confidential and will be used only for statistical purposes and development planning. Residents in the notified regions have been urged to cooperate with enumerators and participate in the exercise.
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