Government notifies 33 questions for census 2027 houselisting, phase 1 begins April 1

New Delhi: The Indian government has formally notified the 33 questions that citizens will answer during the first phase of Census 2027, known as the houselisting and housing enumeration phase.

According to a gazette notification issued by Registrar General of India Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan on Thursday, this crucial data collection exercise is set to begin on April 1. The notification instructs Census officers to collect comprehensive information regarding housing conditions, household amenities, and assets within their appointed local areas to create a sound framework for the subsequent population enumeration.

This initial phase will be conducted over a 30-day window specified by each state and Union Territory between April 1 and September 30 of this year. Additionally, the government has introduced a self-enumeration option that will be available for a 15-day period immediately preceding the start of field operations. The questionnaire is designed to map the socio-economic status of households by recording details such as the predominant materials used for the floor, walls, and roof, the condition of the house, and its ownership status. Enumerators will also document the name and sex of the head of the household, whether they belong to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, or other communities, and the number of married couples residing in the home.

Beyond basic demographics, the survey will delve into household amenities and digital connectivity. Citizens will be asked about their main source of drinking water, lighting, bathing facilities, type of latrine, and wastewater outlets. The enumerators will also record ownership of assets like vehicles, radios, televisions, and gadgets including laptops and smartphones, as well as access to the internet. Other questions cover the availability of kitchens, LPG or PNG connections, the main fuel used for cooking, and the primary cereal consumed by the household. A mobile number for census-related communication will also be collected.

The Census 2027 is being touted as the first-ever digital census, with an estimated 30 lakh enumerators utilizing mobile applications on both Android and iOS platforms to ensure higher data quality. The massive exercise, budgeted at Rs 11,718 crore, was originally scheduled for 2021 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the first phase focuses on housing, the second phase—population enumeration—is scheduled for February 2027.

Significantly, the government had earlier announced that caste data will be captured electronically during this second phase. This marks a historic shift, as the last comprehensive caste-based count occurred between 1881 and 1931, with caste being excluded from census operations post-Independence. The decision to include caste enumeration was finalized by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in April last year.