The Registrar General of India revealed that the Census-2027 preparations are well underway, with the initial phase, Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO), commencing in multiple states from April. The Census will be conducted in two phases, focusing on House Listing and Population Enumeration, with March 1, 2027, as the reference date. For regions like Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the reference date is set as October 1, 2026.
Explaining the importance of the reference date, Registrar General and Census Commissioner Mritunjay Kumar Narayan described it as a crucial “snapshot” in time that ensures the collection of consistent demographic and socio-economic data nationwide. He emphasized the confidentiality of personal information under the Census Act, highlighting that it cannot be disclosed under the RTI Act, used in court, or shared with other entities.
Narayan stressed the integral role of states and union territories in the Census process, stating that their entire administrative machinery is involved in conducting fieldwork at the grassroots level. The upcoming Census, following the last one in 2011, will consist of two phases: Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) and Population Enumeration (PE).
The HLO phase will encompass listing all structures, gathering data on housing conditions, amenities, and assets, and assigning unique identification numbers to buildings. Scheduled between April and September 2026, this phase will introduce a digital self-enumeration system to enhance efficiency and reduce reliance on enumerators. Citizens will have a 15-day window for self-enumeration before the 30-day houselisting operations.
Narayan outlined the timeline for the HLO process across various states and union territories, with different regions conducting the operation from April to August 2026. The subsequent phase, Population Enumeration, will focus on collecting individual-level data such as age, gender, occupation, literacy, and caste details. The Union Cabinet approved a budget of Rs 11,718.24 crore for the Census in December 2025, with administrative boundaries frozen as of January 1, 2026.
To ensure data protection, stringent security measures have been implemented throughout the Census process, designating data centers as Critical Information Infrastructure. Over 80,000 training batches of enumerators have been established nationwide for both phases of the Census.
