NEW DELHI: The Registrar General of India (RGI) and the Census Commissioner on Thursday unveiled the official questionnaire for the first phase of Census 2027 — the house listing operation — marking a key step towards the next decennial population exercise.
The initial phase, scheduled to begin on April 1, 2026, will use a 33-point questionnaire designed to capture updated information reflecting changes in Indian society since the last Census in 2011.
The questionnaire, notified on Thursday, primarily focuses on housing-related details, beginning with the location and nature of the respondent’s place of residence.
Reflecting technological and social changes over the past decade, a new question has been added to assess whether households have access to the internet, underscoring the growing importance of digital connectivity as an essential service.
The Centre also aims to assess the availability of basic amenities across households. Respondents will be asked whether they have access to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking and whether adequate drinking water is available. The survey also seeks information on the main cereal consumed by the household, offering insights into dietary patterns and food security across regions.
Other key components of the questionnaire relate to sanitation and hygiene infrastructure. These include questions on access to latrine facilities, the presence of wastewater outlets, and the availability of bathing facilities within or near the household. Together, these data points will help the government better evaluate living conditions and infrastructure gaps.
The house listing phase will mark the formal launch of the census process.
Ahead of this, supervisors and enumerators will be appointed, and responsibilities allocated in coordination with state governments and district administrations to ensure smooth implementation.
Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases. The first phase, known as the House Listing Operation (HLO), will focus on collecting information related to housing conditions, household assets and available amenities.
The second phase, Population Enumeration, will begin on February 1, 2027. During this phase, detailed demographic, socio-economic, cultural and other personal information of every individual residing in each household will be recorded.
Census 2027 will be the 16th Census conducted in India and the eighth since Independence, continuing a crucial exercise that informs policy planning and governance across the country.