**Executive Summary**
This document provides a status update on Phase I of Census 2027, focusing on the commencement of Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) field operations and Self-Enumeration facilities across various Indian States and Union Territories. Key activities began on May 17, 2026, in several regions, with specific deadlines for Self-Enumeration ranging from May 21 to May 31, 2026. Residents are required to participate digitally or through physical visits to facilitate national welfare and development planning.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Regional Operational Status**
* **Commenced Operations:** Field operations for HLO began on May 17, 2026, in Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and the MCD area of Delhi.
* **Ongoing Operations:** House-to-house enumerations are currently in progress in states including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Telangana, and Uttarakhand.
* **Completed Operations:** HLO activities were completed between April 16 and May 15, 2026, in Odisha, Sikkim, Mizoram, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and specific areas of Delhi (NDMC and Cantonment Board).
**Self-Enumeration (SE) Initiatives**
* **Availability:** The SE facility is active in Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Puducherry until May 31, 2026; in Uttar Pradesh, it is available until May 21, 2026.
* **Digital Participation:** Over 1.44 crore households have already used the official portal (se.census.gov.in) across 25 States/UTs.
* **Transition to Field Work:** Following the SE deadlines, field operations will follow in these regions (e.g., June 1–30, 2026, for Gujarat and J&K).
**Methodology and Data Security**
* **Digital Tools:** For the first time, Census 2027 utilizes a dedicated mobile application for digital data collection by enumerators.
* **Data Scope:** The HLO phase uses a 33-question structured questionnaire covering housing conditions, household assets, and amenities.
* **Confidentiality:** All information is collected under the Census Act, 1948, ensuring data remains confidential and is used strictly for statistical and planning purposes.
**Impact Analysis**
**Residents/Households**
**Impact**
Residents are provided with a more convenient, secure, and digitized method to participate in the Census via the Self-Enumeration portal or traditional door-to-door visits.
**Action Required**
Eligible residents should complete self-enumeration online if preferred. Those who do must share their generated Self-Enumeration ID (SE ID) with enumerators during field visits; others must cooperate with enumerators during physical house-to-house visits.
**Enumerators**
**Impact**
Field staff are now required to use digital tools (mobile applications) instead of paper-based methods to ensure accurate and comprehensive coverage.
**Action Required**
Enumerators must conduct physical visits to all households, collect data via the mobile app, and verify SE IDs for households that participated digitally.
**Ministry of Home Affairs / Government Planners**
**Impact**
The transition to digital census operations provides a more robust and efficient foundation for evidence-based planning of welfare and development programmes.
**Action Required**
Oversee the ongoing field operations across various states and ensure the security and integrity of the digital data collected for future policy implementation.
Key Entities Referenced
Census 2027: The nationwide census exercise being conducted using digital tools and door-to-door enumeration to ensure comprehensive population coverage.
Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO): The first phase of the Census operations focused on collecting data regarding housing conditions, household details, amenities, and assets.
Census Act, 1948: The legal framework that governs the conduct of the census and ensures the strict confidentiality of all collected data.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The primary central ministry responsible for overseeing and executing the nationwide census operations.
Self-Enumeration (SE) facility: A newly introduced digital initiative allowing residents to participate in the census process by providing their details through an official portal.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Field Operations for Houselisting and Housing
Census commences in Rajasthan, Meghalaya,
Maharashtra, Jharkhand and MCD area of Delhi
Self-Enumeration begins in Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir,
Ladakh and Puducherry
More than 1.44 Crore Households Completed Self-
Enumeration
Posted On: 17 MAY 2026 10:42AM by PIB Delhi
The field operations for the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) under Phase I of Census 2027 have
commenced in five States and Union Territories namely Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Jharkhand
and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) area in Delhi NCT as part of the ongoing nationwide Census
exercise.
Meanwhile, House-to-House Houselisting Operations by Enumerators are presently in progress in Andhra
Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu,
Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Telangana and Uttarakhand.
The Self-Enumeration (SE) facility has commenced today in Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and
Puducherry and will remain available till May 31, 2026. The corresponding Houselisting and Housing
Census field operations in these States/UTs will be conducted from June 1 to June 30, 2026.
The Self-Enumeration facility is also currently underway in Uttar Pradesh and will continue till May 21,
2026, following which the HLO field operations will be conducted from May 22 to June 20, 2026.
Earlier, the Houselisting and Housing Census operations conducted from April 16 to May 15, 2026 were
completed in the States/UTs of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha and Sikkim,
along with the NDMC area and Delhi Cantonment Board area in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
The Self-Enumeration (SE) facility, introduced for the first time in Census operations, continues to receive
an encouraging response from the public. More than 1.44 crore households have already completed Self-
Enumeration through the official portal (se.census.gov.in) across 25 States/UTs. The initiative marks a
significant step towards digitisation of Census operations and offers residents a convenient and secure
platform to participate in the Census process.
Residents who have completed Self-Enumeration are requested to keep their generated Self-Enumeration
ID (SE ID) ready and share the same with the Enumerator during the field visit to complete the HLO
process. Households that have not opted for Self-Enumeration will be covered during the physical house-
to-house visit by Enumerators.Census 2027 is being conducted using digital tools for the first time while retaining the traditional door-to-
door enumeration process to ensure comprehensive and accurate coverage. During field visits,
Enumerators are collecting data digitally through a dedicated mobile application. During this phase,
information relating to housing conditions, household details, amenities available and assets possessed by
households is being collected through a structured questionnaire comprising 33 notified questions. The
data collected forms an important basis for evidence-based planning and implementation of welfare and
development programmes.
All data collected under the Census Act, 1948, remains strictly confidential and is used solely for
statistical purposes and development planning. Residents in the notified States/UTs are requested to
extend full cooperation to Enumerators during the Houselisting Operations and actively participate in this
important national exercise.
***
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