The central government has issued an official notification for the Census of India 2027, announcing the questionnaire for the first phase of the census process. This phase is called the House Listing and Housing Census and includes 33 questions that will collect detailed information about households across the country. The process is scheduled to begin in April 2026 and aims to ensure comprehensive data collection, digital mapping, and better planning for governance and development.

According to the notification, the questionnaire will cover important aspects of housing and household conditions. These include the condition of houses, family structure, ownership status, access to basic facilities, and availability of resources such as internet, drinking water, sanitation, LPG connection, and staple food. The head of each household will be responsible for providing this information during the census.

The Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases. Phase I, the House Listing and Housing Census, will take place from April 1, 2026, to September 30, 2026. During this period, data related to housing conditions, construction material, ownership, and infrastructure will be collected. Each state and union territory will complete the process within 30 days. In addition, self-enumeration will be available, allowing people to submit information online 15 days before the official listing begins.

The government has highlighted that the 2027 Census will be completely digital for the first time. The entire process will be conducted using mobile applications on Android and iOS platforms. Around 3 million enumerators will be involved in data collection, and the information will be transmitted in real time. The Census India 2027 authority stated that “the questionnaire for Phase II (Population Enumeration) will be announced later.”

A major and historic feature of the 2027 Census is the inclusion of caste data. This will be the first caste-inclusive census since 1931 and the first such enumeration after independence. This step has been described as a landmark development in India’s census history.

Another important aspect of Census 2027 is the digital mapping of households. Every house will be mapped digitally and will become a “Digi Dot” on the national map. This digital mapping is expected to provide multiple benefits. It will support improved disaster management by enabling accurate relief operations during floods, earthquakes, and other emergencies through geo-tagging. It will also help in better delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies and strengthen urban planning by supporting the development of schools, hospitals, parks, and emergency services.

The digital data will also help track urbanisation and migration by allowing comparative mapping in future censuses. Additionally, it will contribute to the creation of more accurate voter lists by eliminating duplicate entries through geo-tagging and Aadhaar linkage.

India’s population was estimated at around 1.21 billion in the 2011 Census. The 2027 Census is expected to be the world’s largest digital census and is considered crucial for policy-making, development planning, and resource allocation. The government believes that the digital approach will make data collection more efficient and reliable.

The questionnaire for the House Listing and Housing Census includes 33 fields. These are:

1.     Building number

2.     House number

3.     The main material of the floor

4.     The main material of the wall

5.     The main material of the roof

6.     Uses of the house

7.     Condition of the house

8.     Household number

9.     Number of family members

10.  Head of the family

11.  Gender of the head of the family

12.  SC/ST/Others

13.  Ownership status

14.  Number of rooms

15.  Number of married couples

16.  Main source of drinking water

17.  Availability of drinking water

18.  Main source of light

19.  Availability of a toilet

20.  Type of toilet

21.  Sewage drainage

22.  Availability of the bathroom

23.  Kitchen, LPG/PNG connection

24.  Main fuel for cooking

25.  Radio/Transistor

26.  Television

27.  Internet facility

28.  Laptop/Computer

29.  Telephone/Mobile phone/Smartphone

30.  Cycle/Scooter/Motorcycle/Moped

31.  Car/Auto/Van

32.  Main cereals

33.  Mobile number

The Census India 2027 authority reiterated that the details for the second phase of the census will be released later. The government has emphasised that the 2027 Census will play a key role in shaping India’s future policies and development strategies through accurate, digital, and inclusive data collection.