New Delhi, April 1: The Government of India has officially launched Census 2027, marking the beginning of the world’s largest census exercise with the rollout of Phase I — Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO). The exercise introduces, for the first time, digital data capture and a Self-Enumeration facility for citizens.
President Droupadi Murmu became the first citizen to complete the Self-Enumeration process, continuing the tradition of initiating the national census with the Head of State. Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah also completed their enumeration online, highlighting the importance of public participation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to citizens across the country to actively participate in the census by self-enumerating their household details and cooperating with enumerators during field visits.
In the initial phase, the Self-Enumeration process has commenced in several States and Union Territories, including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, Sikkim, and selected areas of Delhi such as NDMC and the Cantonment Board. On the very first day, approximately 55,000 households availed of the Self-Enumeration facility, indicating strong public response.
The Self-Enumeration facility is a secure web-based platform available in 16 regional languages, allowing citizens to submit their details online before an enumerator’s visit. Upon submission, a unique Self-Enumeration ID (SE ID) is generated, which will be verified during the field survey. The Houselisting and Housing Census in the initial States and UTs will be conducted from April 16 to May 15, 2026. Nationwide, the Phase I exercise will continue from April 1 to September 30, 2026, with each State and UT undertaking a 30-day enumeration schedule.
During this phase, data on housing conditions, household amenities, and assets will be collected through a set of 33 notified questions. This information will serve as a critical foundation for policy-making, welfare schemes, and development planning for the next decade. The government has assured that all data collected under the Census Act, 1948, will remain strictly confidential. Advanced digital systems with encryption and multi-factor authentication have been implemented to ensure data security.
Census 2027 is expected to play a crucial role in shaping India’s governance and development strategies. Citizens are encouraged to participate actively either through Self-Enumeration or by cooperating with enumerators during the survey.
