India is preparing for its first-ever entirely digital census, marking a significant transition in how the nation tracks its population and infrastructure. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently notified the official list of 33 questions for Phase I, which focuses on “Houselisting and Housing Enumeration”.
This 16th Census, scheduled for 2027, will leverage modern technology to map the living conditions and socioeconomic amenities of Indian households.
A New Digital Frontier
For the first time in India’s history, data collection will move away from paper to mobile applications available on both Android and iOS platforms. Furthermore, the census will feature geo-tagging of residential structures, a move intended to enhance urban planning and improve disaster response capabilities.
To streamline the process, the government is introducing a self-enumeration window. This allows citizens a 15-day period to fill in their details online before an official enumerator visits their home.
Timeline for Phase I and Phase II
The census will follow a strictly scheduled two-phase process:
• Phase I (2026): Focusing on House Listing and Housing Enumeration, this phase will run from April 1 to September 30, 2026. Each State and Union Territory will select its own 30-day window within this timeframe to conduct the survey.
• Phase II (2027): This phase is dedicated to Population Enumeration and is scheduled to take place in February 2027.
Key Changes in the 2027 Questionnaire
The updated questionnaire for Phase I includes 33 comprehensive questions designed to reflect India’s evolving standard of living and digital landscape. Consequently, the survey now places a greater emphasis on modern amenities and changing lifestyle trends.
- Internet Access: Reflecting India’s “digital world,” there are expanded questions regarding household internet connectivity.
- Dietary Trends: New questions have been added regarding cereal consumption and food trends.
- Financial Services: Interestingly, the topic regarding financial services has been removed from this specific phase.
- Living Conditions: The survey remains focused on mapping household infrastructure, assets, and socioeconomic amenities.
Here is the full list of 33-Questions
- Building number (Municipal or local authority or census number).
- Census house number.
- Predominant material of floor of the census house.
- Predominant material on the wall of the census house.
- Predominant material of roof of the census house.
- Ascertain use of census houses.
- Condition of the census house.
- Household number.
- Total number of persons normally residing in the household.
- Name of the head of the household.
- Sex of the head of the household.
- Whether the head belongs to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Other.
- Ownership status of the census house.
- Number of dwelling rooms exclusively in possession of the household.
- Number of married couple(s) living in the household.
- Main source of drinking water.
- Availability of drinking water source.
- Main source of lighting.
- Access to latrine.
- Type of latrine.
- Waste water outlet.
- Availability of bathing facilities.
- Availability of kitchen and LPG/PNG connection.
- Main fuel used for cooking.
- Radio/Transistor.
- Television.
- Access to the internet.
- Laptop/Computer.
- Telephone/Mobile Phone/Smartphone.
- Bicycle/Scooter/Motorcycle/Moped.
- Car/Jeep/Van.
- Main Cereal consumed in the household.
- Mobile Number (for census related communications only).
Q&A: Understanding the 16th Census
Which government body is responsible for the census? The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RG&CCI), operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is the official body managing the 2027 Census.
How will data be collected if I do not use the mobile app? While the census is digital, enumerators will visit households to collect data via mobile apps for those who do not use the 15-day self-enumeration window.
What is the purpose of geo-tagging in this census? Geo-tagging residential structures allows the government to have precise location data, which is vital for improving disaster response and developing more accurate urban planning strategies.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are in the Phase I questionnaire? The MHA has notified a total of 33 questions for the first phase of the census.
When will the census start? Phase I begins on April 1, 2026, and will conclude by September 30, 2026, depending on the specific window chosen by each state.
Can I fill out my own census form? Yes. Citizens will have a 15-day self-enumeration window to provide their details online through a digital portal before an official enumerator arrives.
What are the major highlights of Phase I? Phase I focuses on Houselisting and Housing Enumeration, looking at house infrastructure, assets, and amenities rather than the final population count.
Is this the first digital census in India? Yes, Census 2027 represents India’s transition to an entirely digital experiment for population counting.
