**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Home Affairs has commenced Phase 1 of Census 2027, focusing on Houselisting Operations (HLO) and Housing Census across various States and Union Territories. The initiative introduces digital tools, including a Self-Enumeration (SE) facility and a mobile application for field data collection, to enhance accuracy and efficiency. Key operational timelines range from May 1 to June 14, 2026, depending on the region, and require active participation from residents and trained Enumerators.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Regional Timelines for Houselisting Operations (HLO)**
* Operations began on May 1, 2026, and will run until May 30, 2026, in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
* In Bihar, field operations are scheduled from May 2 to May 31, 2026.
* HLO field visits for the MCD area (Delhi), Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, and Jharkhand will take place from May 16 to June 14, 2026.
* Field work is currently underway in several other regions, including Goa, Karnataka, Odisha, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and various Union Territories.
* **Self-Enumeration (SE) Facility**
* For the first time in a Census, residents can submit details online via the official portal (se.census.gov.in) prior to field visits.
* Nearly 82 lakh households have already utilized the SE facility.
* The SE window is open from May 1 to May 15, 2026, for the MCD area (Delhi), Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, and Jharkhand.
* Self-Enumeration is currently ongoing in Telangana and Punjab as per the notified schedule.
* **Data Collection and Digital Integration**
* Enumerators use a dedicated mobile application for digital data collection during house-to-house visits.
* The HLO phase utilizes a structured questionnaire consisting of 33 notified questions regarding housing conditions, household amenities, and assets.
* The data collected serves as the groundwork for the subsequent Population Enumeration phase of Census 2027.
* **Confidentiality and Legal Framework**
* All information is collected under the Census Act, 1948.
* Data remains strictly confidential and is used exclusively for statistical purposes and development planning.
**Impact Analysis**
**Residents**
**Impact**
Residents are provided with increased flexibility and convenience through the digital Self-Enumeration portal. Those who do not utilize the online facility will still be covered by traditional door-to-door physical enumeration.
**Action Required**
Residents must extend full cooperation to Enumerators during field visits. Those who completed Self-Enumeration must save their Self-Enumeration ID (SE ID) and share it with the Enumerator during the field visit to complete the process.
**Enumerators**
**Impact**
Trained field staff are now equipped with digital tools (a mobile application) instead of traditional paper-based methods, intended to ensure higher data accuracy and faster processing.
**Action Required**
Enumerators must conduct house-to-house visits during the specified regional windows to collect data via the mobile app or verify the SE IDs of households that participated in Self-Enumeration.
Key Entities Referenced
Census 2027: The national census exercise being conducted using digital tools for the first time, comprising the Houselisting and Housing Census and Population Enumeration phases.
Census Act, 1948: The legal framework governing the collection of census data, ensuring strict confidentiality and restricting its use to statistical purposes and development planning.
Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO): The first phase of Census 2027 involving house-to-house data collection on housing conditions, amenities, and assets via a structured questionnaire.
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 enumeration.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The primary central ministry responsible for the oversight and execution of the national Census operations.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Houselisting Operations under Census 2027
begins in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh,
Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh and
Chhattisgarh
Self-Enumeration (SE) facility commences in MCD area of
Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Meghalaya and Jharkhand
Self-Enumeration facility, introduced for the first time in
Census received an encouraging response from the public
Nearly 82 lakh Households availed Self-Enumeration (SE)
facility so far
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 requested to extend full
cooperation to Enumerators during the Houselisting
Operations and actively participate in important national
exercise
Posted On: 01 MAY 2026 7:43PM by PIB Delhi
The field operations for Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO), under Phase 1 of Census 2027, have
commenced from today in six States and Union Territories namely Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh,
Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, following the completion of the notified 15-day
Self-Enumeration period. The exercise will continue till May 30, 2026, during which trained Enumerators
will undertake house-to-house visits for data collection.
The Self-Enumeration (SE) facility under Census 2027 has also commenced from today in Municipal
Corporation of Delhi (MCD) area, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Meghalaya and Jharkhand. The online facility
will remain available till May 15, 2026. The corresponding house-to-house Houselisting Operations in
these States/UT will be conducted from May 16 to June 14, 2026.
Further, in Bihar, the notified 15-day Self-Enumeration period is concluding today, and house-to-house
field operations will commence from May 2, 2026 continuing till May 31, 2026.The Self-Enumeration facility, introduced for the first time in Census 2027, has received an encouraging
response from the public. As part of the digital approach adopted for Census 2027, so far around 82 lakh
households have successfully availed the facility through the official portal (se.census.gov.in).
The facility was introduced prior to field enumeration 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) safe 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 field visits,
Enumerators will use a dedicated mobile application to collect data digitally, ensuring higher accuracy and
faster processing.
During the Houselisting and Housing Census phase, information relating to housing conditions, household
details, amenities available and assets possessed by households will be collected through a structured
questionnaire comprising 33 notified questions. This phase will also lay the groundwork for the
subsequent Population Enumeration phase of Census 2027.
The Self-Enumeration facility is currently ongoing in Telangana and Punjab as per the notified schedule.
Meanwhile, field operations under the Houselisting and Housing Census are currently underway in
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Goa, Karnataka,
Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, Sikkim and Uttarakhand, along with the NDMC area and Delhi
Cantonment Board in the National Capital Territory.
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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