The first phase of Census 2027 has picked up momentum in the national capital, with enumerators fanning out across neighbourhoods in the New Delhi district to carry out the house listing and housing census. The exercise, which began on April 16 in areas under the New Delhi Municipal Council and Delhi Cantonment, marks the start of a large-scale effort to map households and gather socio-economic data. After completing the initial stage of physical mapping and geotagging, officials have now moved to the door-to-door survey, which is expected to continue until mid-May.
Enumerators navigate dense localities and varied responses
According to The Hindu, teams of enumerators, primarily government school teachers, have been assigned specific clusters to cover each day. In densely populated settlements like Sanjay Camp in Chanakyapuri, survey teams are working through narrow lanes and closely packed homes to reach every household. The response from residents has been mixed, with some cooperating readily while others require reassurance about the purpose of the exercise. Many interactions are taking place with women respondents, often speaking from within their homes, reflecting local social dynamics.
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Digital tools and structured data collection
Enumerators are using a dedicated mobile application to record responses, ensuring that data is captured in real time wherever connectivity allows. In cases of poor network coverage, information is temporarily recorded on paper and uploaded later. Each household is assigned a unique identification number, often marked visibly on doors or walls, especially in areas lacking formal address systems. The survey includes over thirty questions covering housing conditions, water sources, cooking fuel, internet access and family composition, providing a comprehensive snapshot of living conditions.
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Inclusion of vulnerable clusters and next steps
Even settlements facing uncertainty, such as nearby informal clusters that have received relocation notices, are being included in the census process as residents continue to occupy these areas. Officials have emphasised that the data collected will be cross-checked with digital maps once the survey is completed to ensure accuracy. The ongoing exercise is a critical step in building an updated demographic and housing database, which will inform policy planning, welfare schemes and infrastructure development in the years ahead.
