New Delhi.29.06.2025: The Central Government has announced the official start date for the upcoming population census in India. According to the latest update, the census will begin on April 1, 2026, starting with the counting and listing of houses across the country.
The Registrar General of India shared that this will be the first phase of the census, called the House Listing Operation (HLO). In this stage, officials will collect details about the number of houses, their condition, available amenities, and other household-related information.
To prepare for this massive task, Census Commissioner and Registrar General Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan has written letters to the Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories. The letter mentioned that supervisors and enumerators will be appointed in advance. These workers will carry out the census activities in cooperation with state and district administrations.
Two-Phase Census Process
The population census will be conducted in two phases:
- Phase 1 (House Listing Operation): Starting from April 1, 2026, this phase will gather details about the condition of houses, the number of rooms, available facilities like toilets, water supply, electricity, kitchen, LPG connection, and ownership details.
- Phase 2 (Population Enumeration): This phase will begin on February 1, 2027. It will collect information about every person living in those households, including demographic, socio-economic, and cultural details. The government has also confirmed that caste information will be collected during this census.
16th Census of India and 8th After Independence
This will be India’s 16th population census and the 8th census after Independence. A large team of over 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors and around 1.3 lakh census officers will be deployed for this task.
For the first time, the government will use digital technology and mobile applications for data collection. People will also get the option of self-enumeration, where they can submit their details through an online platform.
Questions to be Asked in the Census
The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner has prepared about three dozen questions for this census. Households will be asked about:
- Mobile phones and internet connection
- Vehicles like bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, cars, jeeps, vans
- Home appliances like radio, TV, and transistors
- Drinking water and sanitation facilities
- Type of lighting and sewage system
- Kitchen and LPG connection
- Number of rooms and residents
- Material used for the floor and roof of the house
- Condition of the house
- Marital status of household members
- Ownership details, including if the owner is a woman or belongs to SC/ST categories
Conclusion
The upcoming population census is one of the most important national activities that helps the government plan for the country’s future development. With digital tools and wide participation, the 2026-2027 Census is expected to be more accurate and efficient than ever before.
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