New Delhi: Union Government will start the first phase of census – 2027 house listing operations from April 1^st to September 30^th. This operation is conducting in each State/UT over a specified 30-day period. The next phase population enumeration starts from March 1^st, 2027.

According to the Census Commissioner of India Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan said HLO lists out all structures, houses, and households to create a data-backed foundation for the next phase, i.e., population enumeration. Total 33 questions will cover details about households, living conditions, and access to basic amenities.

The Enumerators will collect the details like materials used to build the structure, purpose for which it is being used, number of people living in it (if any), building ownership details, and number of rooms, he said. They will also collect the amenities availability of drinking water (and main source, if available), source of electricity, access to (and type) of latrine, and waste management, as well as type of gas connections used as primary cooking fuel, he said.

People will also be asked if they own items like radios or televisions, about their internet access (and details about computers, mobile phones they might own), and about registered four- or two-wheeled vehicles. Answers can also be submitted via forms available in 16 languages, so long as these are submitted in a 15-day window preceding start of HLOs in a State or UT.

An estimated 30 lakh census operators will use specially developed mobile phone apps available for iPhones and Android devices, and which can work without an internet connection to capture all data. Recorded data will remain strictly confidential, he added.

The 1^st phase of census will begin as early as October 2026 in snow-bound States and UTs, such as Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

The Enumerators will questions about an individual’s caste and sub-caste.  In India, where caste has historically shaped social, economic, and political dynamics, census-raised caste data can give insights into demographic distribution, socio-economic conditions, and representation of various caste groups. This will inform policies on affirmative action, reservations, and social justice.

In India the census is conducted every decade. The last count was in 2011. In 2021 it was abandoned because of the pandemic. The opposition had pushed for the census to be held in 2027, arguing it is necessary to have an accurate, up-to-date count of population and socio-economic data for effective policy-making.

The last comprehensive caste-based count was done by the Britishers between 1881 and 1931. Caste was excluded from all census operations conducted since Independence.