Date: 2026-04-15Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Field operations for the Houselisting and Housing Census to begin in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, Sikkim and NDMC & Delhi Cantonment Board area in Delhi from tomorrow
**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Home Affairs is initiating Phase I (Houselisting and Housing Census) of Census 2027, with field operations beginning April 16, 2026, across various States and Union Territories. The exercise marks a shift toward a digital approach, introducing a Self-Enumeration (SE) facility and the use of mobile applications for data collection. Key regional rollouts and field operations are scheduled to continue through May 31, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Field Operation Schedules**
* **Initial Phase:** Operations start April 16, 2026, and run until May 15, 2026, in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, Sikkim, NDMC, and Delhi Cantonment Board.
* **Second Phase Rollout:** Field operations for Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh are scheduled for May 1 to May 30, 2026.
* **Bihar Timeline:** A 15-day Self-Enumeration period begins April 17, 2026, followed by field operations from May 2 to May 31, 2026.
**Digital Initiatives**
* **Self-Enumeration (SE):** For the first time, residents can submit details online via the official portal (se.census.gov.in); approximately 12 lakh households have already used this facility.
* **Mobile Application:** Enumerators will use a dedicated mobile app during house-to-house visits to ensure higher accuracy and faster data processing.
* **SE ID Requirement:** Residents who completed online enumeration must provide their generated Self-Enumeration ID to the enumerator during the field visit.
**Scope and Data Privacy**
* **Data Points:** The census includes a structured questionnaire of 33 notified questions regarding housing conditions, household details, amenities, and assets.
* **Legal Protections:** All information is collected under the Census Act, 1948, ensuring strict confidentiality and use solely for statistical and development planning.
**Impact Analysis**
**Residents of Notified States and UTs**
**Impact**
They are the primary subjects of the census, required to provide personal and household data either digitally or through physical interviews.
**Action Required**
Participate in the Self-Enumeration portal if applicable, keep SE IDs ready for verification, and extend full cooperation to enumerators during house-to-house visits.
**Enumerators**
**Impact**
They are responsible for conducting the 30-day field exercise using new digital tools rather than traditional paper-based methods.
**Action Required**
Undergo training on the dedicated mobile application and visit every household to collect data or verify SE IDs to complete the HLO process.
**Government and Development Planners**
**Impact**
The transition to digital tools provides these stakeholders with more accurate and timely data for national planning.
**Action Required**
Utilize the foundation of evidence-based data for the formulation of future welfare and development programmes.
Key Entities Referenced
Census 2027: The upcoming nationwide census exercise in India, which adopts a digital approach for data collection.
Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO): The first phase of the national census involving field operations to collect information on housing conditions, household details, and assets.
Self-Enumeration (SE) facility: A newly introduced digital initiative allowing residents to submit their census details online through an official portal prior to physical field visits.
Census Act, 1948: The legal framework governing the collection and confidentiality of census data, restricting its use to statistical and development planning.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The primary central ministry responsible for overseeing the nationwide census operations and field exercises.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Field operations for the Houselisting and
Housing Census to begin in Andaman and
Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep,
Mizoram, Odisha, Sikkim and NDMC & Delhi
Cantonment Board area in Delhi from tomorrow
Self-Enumeration (SE) facility introduced for the first time in
Census received encouraging response
As part of the digital approach adopted for Census 2027, so
far around 12 lakh households successfully availed Self-
Enumeration facility
Residents who have completed Self-Enumeration should
keep their Self-Enumeration ID (SE ID) ready and share it with
Enumerator during field visit to complete HLO process
Self-Enumeration facility in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal
Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh and
Chhattisgarh to commence from tomorrow
15-day Self-Enumeration period in Bihar to start from Friday
All data collected under the Census Act, 1948, remains
strictly confidential and solely used 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
Posted On: 15 APR 2026 7:05PM by PIB DelhiThe field operations for the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO), constituting Phase I of Census
2027, will begin from April 16, 2026 in eight States and Union Territories namely Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, and Sikkim, along with the NDMC area and
Delhi Cantonment Board in the National Capital Territory, as part of the nationwide Census exercise,
following the conclusion of the 15-day Self-Enumeration period. The exercise will be carried out over a
30-day period till May 15, 2026, during which trained Enumerators will undertake house-to-house visits
for data collection.
The Self-Enumeration (SE) facility introduced for the first time in Census has received an encouraging
response from the public. As part of the digital approach adopted for Census 2027, so far around 12 lakh
households have successfully availed Self-Enumeration facility through the official portal
(se.census.gov.in).
The facility was made available prior to the field enumeration period to enable residents to submit their
details online through a secure and user-friendly digital platform. The initiative marks a significant
milestone in digitising Census operations and has been widely appreciated for offering flexibility,
convenience and ease of participation.
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.
The Census is being conducted using digital tools for the first time, while retaining the traditional door-to-
door enumeration framework to ensure comprehensive and accurate coverage. During the field visits,
Enumerators will use a dedicated mobile application to collect data digitally to ensure higher accuracy and
faster processing.
During the Houselisting and Housing Census phase, Enumerators will collect information relating to
housing conditions, household details, amenities available and assets possessed by the households through
a structured questionnaire comprising 33 notified questions. This phase of the Census forms an essential
foundation for evidence-based planning and formulation of welfare and development programmes.
In the next phase of rollout, the Self-Enumeration facility will commence from April 16, 2026 in Andhra
Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and will remain
available till April 30, 2026. The corresponding house-to-house Houselisting Operations in these
States/UTs will be conducted from May 1 to May 30, 2026.
Further, in Bihar, the 15-day Self-Enumeration period will commence from April 17, 2026 and continue
till May 1, 2026, followed by field operations from May 2 to May 31, 2026.
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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