Field Operations for Houselisting and Housing Census commences in Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and MCD area of Delhi

House-to-house field operations for the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) — Phase I of Census 2027 — commenced on May 16, 2026, in Rajasthan, Meghalaya, ...

What Happened

House-to-house field operations for the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) — Phase I of Census 2027 — commenced on May 16, 2026, in Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) area of Delhi NCT.
The field operations run from May 16 to June 14, 2026, in these five states and UTs; enumerators are collecting data digitally through a dedicated mobile application.
A Self-Enumeration (SE) facility had previously been available online (via se.census.gov.in) from May 2, 2026, to May 15, 2026, in the same five jurisdictions.
Over 1.44 crore households across 25 states and UTs have already completed self-enumeration through the official portal.
The digital questionnaire for the Housing Census comprises 33 notified questions covering housing conditions, household details, amenities, and assets.
Census 2027 is the first census since 2011; the previously scheduled 2021 Census was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic — the first such delay since the 1871 census.

Static Topic Bridges

Census in India — Constitutional and Legal Basis

The decennial census is a Union subject, meaning only the Central Government has the authority to conduct it. The constitutional and statutory framework is well-defined.

Constitutional basis: Article 246 read with Entry 69 of List I (Union List) of the Seventh Schedule — "Census" is explicitly a Union subject under Parliament's exclusive legislative competence.
Statutory basis: The Census Act, 1948 provides the legal framework for conducting the census, including powers of the Census Commissioner, appointment of enumerators, and enforcement provisions.
The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (under the Ministry of Home Affairs) is responsible for planning and execution.
Census data is not only demographic — it provides the factual basis for policy planning, delimitation of constituencies, resource allocation, and welfare targeting.

Connection to this news: The Phase I operations in five states mark the first field-level implementation of Census 2027, with the Central Government exercising its exclusive Union List authority through the Census Act machinery.

History of the Census in India

The census has a long history in India and carries enormous administrative and political significance.

First modern census in India: 1872 (conducted under British administration by W.C. Plowden).
First synchronised decennial census: 1881 — the decennial (every 10 years) pattern has been maintained unbroken since then, except for the 2021 delay.
Last completed census: 2011 (conducted under the Census Act, 1948).
2021 Census: Delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic; the first census postponement in independent India and since 1871.
Census 2027: The rescheduled census; Phase I (Houselisting) precedes Phase II (Population Enumeration), the sequencing mandated by the Census Act.
The 2026–27 census will also include caste enumeration — a policy decision announced in 2025, making it the first census to collect socio-economic caste data since 1931.

Connection to this news: The Phase I commencement in 2026 represents the formal restart of India's decennial enumeration machinery after a multi-year pandemic-related suspension.

Houselisting and Housing Census (Phase I) vs Population Enumeration (Phase II)

The census is conducted in two sequential phases, each with a distinct scope.

Phase I — Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO): Covers the physical characteristics of residential and non-residential structures, household amenities, assets, and access to basic infrastructure (water, sanitation, electricity). Provides the "frame" for the population enumeration that follows.
Phase II — Population Enumeration: Collects data on individuals — population count, age, sex, literacy, occupation, mother tongue, religion, caste, and other socio-economic variables.
Self-Enumeration (SE): An innovation in Census 2027 allowing residents to fill in their household data online before enumerators visit, reducing the time burden on field staff.
The 33-question digital questionnaire covers housing type, number of rooms, source of drinking water, type of latrine, fuel used for cooking, ownership of assets (TV, mobile phone, vehicle, etc.), and access to internet.

Connection to this news: The current phase in five states is exclusively Phase I (housing census), not the population headcount — students must distinguish between the two phases.

National Population Register (NPR)

The NPR is closely linked to the census exercise and has been a subject of constitutional and political debate.

The NPR is a register of usual residents of India, maintained under the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.
It is updated alongside the Houselisting phase of the census.
The NPR aims to create a database of demographic and biometric particulars of every usual resident (including foreigners).
Controversy: Concerns have been raised that the NPR is a precursor to the National Register of Citizens (NRC), leading several state governments to pass resolutions declining to update the NPR. The government has maintained these are separate processes.

Connection to this news: Whether the 2027 census Houselisting phase will simultaneously update the NPR remains a policy question; the distinction matters for Mains answers on civil liberties and federal relations.

Census Data and Its Uses — Delimitation and Planning

Census data forms the empirical backbone for several constitutional and administrative processes.

Delimitation of constituencies (Article 82 and 170): The Delimitation Commission uses population data from the preceding census to redraw Lok Sabha and State Assembly constituency boundaries. The current delimitation freeze (linked to the Southern states' concern about being "penalised" for lower population growth) is set to be revisited after Census 2026–27.
Allocation of Lok Sabha seats (Article 81): Total seats and their distribution among states are determined by census population figures.
Welfare targeting: MGNREGS, PMAY, PM-POSHAN, and other flagship schemes use census data for planning, fund allocation, and beneficiary identification.
Social indicators: Literacy rates, sex ratio, maternal mortality, and other development indices are census-derived.

Connection to this news: The 2027 census data will trigger the long-deferred delimitation exercise, with major political and constitutional implications for federal representation.

Key Facts & Data

Phase I operations started: May 16, 2026.
Phase I field operations run through: June 14, 2026 (in first five states).
States/UTs in Phase I (first batch): Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, MCD area of Delhi NCT.
Self-Enumeration window: May 2–15, 2026.
Self-enumeration completed nationally: Over 1.44 crore households across 25 states and UTs.
Digital questionnaire: 33 notified questions.
Method: Digital data collection via mobile application by enumerators.
Last completed census: 2011.
2021 Census: Delayed due to COVID-19 — first such delay since 1871.
Constitutional basis: Article 246, Entry 69, Union List, Seventh Schedule.
Statutory basis: Census Act, 1948.
Census 2027 will include caste enumeration — first socio-economic caste data collection since 1931.