The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that field operations for the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO), the first phase of Census 2027, will commence across multiple States and Union Territories today. In a statement, the Ministry said the exercise will begin in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha and Sikkim, along with NDMC and Delhi Cantonment Board areas in the national capital today. The exercise will be carried out over a 30-day period till 15th of the next month, during which trained Enumerators will undertake house-to-house visits for data collection.
The Ministry said the Self-Enumeration facility, introduced for the first time, has received an encouraging response, with around 12 lakh households successfully submitting their details online. Residents who have completed Self-Enumeration have been advised to keep their Self-Enumeration ID ready and share it with Enumerators during field visits, while those who have not opted for the facility will be covered through physical enumeration.
According to the Ministry, the Census is being conducted using digital tools for the first time, marking a significant step towards modernising Census operations. During the Houselisting phase, Enumerators will collect information on housing conditions, household details, amenities and assets through a structured questionnaire comprising 33 questions, forming the foundation for evidence-based planning and welfare programmes.
The Ministry further informed that the Self-Enumeration facility will also be rolled out in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh today, with field operations scheduled until 1st to 30th of the next month.
Further, in Bihar, the Self-Enumeration period will commence from 17th of this month and continue till May 1, followed by house-to-house operations from May 2 to May 31. The Ministry emphasised that all data collected under the Census Act, 1948 remains strictly confidential and is used solely for statistical and developmental purposes, urging residents to extend full cooperation to Enumerators.
