The first phase of Census 2027 is set to begin with large-scale field operations under the house-listing and housing census (HLO). More than 700 trained personnel will conduct door-to-door surveys, collecting household data over a 30-day period ending May 15, reported Hindustan Times.
In Delhi, areas under the New Delhi Municipal Council and the Delhi Cantonment Board have been divided into 560 house-listing blocks, each covering around 180 households.
Rollout across states and UTs
The exercise will begin on Thursday in eight states and Union territories, including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha and Sikkim. This follows a 15-day self-enumeration period in NDMC and DCB areas.
"The self-enumeration exercise ended on Wednesday. So far, 12 lakh people have self-enumerated in the states and UTs where it started on April 1. In NDMC and Delhi Cantonment Board areas, the figures have been on the lower side, with around 5,000 people completing the process," HT quoted a senior government official as saying.
Mixed response to self-enumeration
Officials noted that the self-enumeration facility saw varied participation. The next phase will extend to areas under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, where self-enumeration will begin on May 1, followed by house-listing from May 16.
Residents were earlier given the option to submit details online through a digital platform. During field visits, enumerators will use a mobile application to record data, aiming for accuracy and faster processing.
What data will be collected
Enumerators will gather details on housing conditions, amenities and household assets through a structured questionnaire of 33 notified questions. Officials said teams will proceed carefully in the initial days.
"There is considerable anticipation around SIR (special intensive revision of election rolls) in Delhi, while many residents remain unaware that the first phase of the census has begun. Some may misconstrue enumerators' visits as part of SIR preparations. Enumerators will therefore focus on putting people at ease and clearly explaining the process," the official said.
Guidelines for residents
Residents who have completed self-enumeration are advised to keep their ID ready for verification. Authorities have also coordinated with RWAs to facilitate the process.
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"For areas that have a large working population, enumerators will visit households post 6pm. They will spend at least 10-15 minutes in each household," the official said.
