Census 2026 to Begin with Houselisting Operations on April 1: News Explainer

New Delhi, June 30, 2025: The Indian government has announced that the first phase of Census 2026, known as the Houselisting Operation (HLO), will commence on April 1, 2026. This decennial exercise, conducted under the supervision of the Registrar General of India, marks a significant step in updating India’s demographic and socio-economic data. For the first time, the census will be fully digital, incorporating self-enumeration and mobile applications, and will include caste enumeration, a move that could have far-reaching implications for policy and delimitation. Here is a detailed breakdown of what to expect from Census 2026, its phases, objectives, and significance. (Representative Image - Pexels/Canva)

What is the Census 2026?

The Census of India is a comprehensive population and housing survey conducted every ten years to collect detailed demographic, social, and economic data. The upcoming census, referred to as Census 2026 or Census 2027 (based on the population enumeration phase), is the 16th census since 1872 and the first since 2011, delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be conducted in two phases: the Houselisting Operation starting April 1, 2026, and the Population Enumeration beginning February 1, 2027, with reference dates varying by region (October 1, 2026, for snow-bound areas like Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, and March 1, 2027, for the rest of India).

Key Phases of Census 2026

The census is divided into two distinct phases, each serving a specific purpose in data collection:

Houselisting Operation (HLO) – April 1, 2026

The first phase involves collecting data on housing conditions, household amenities, and assets. Enumerators will visit households to gather information on:

Housing Conditions: Structural details, ownership status, and residential conditions.

Amenities: Access to drinking water, sanitation, electricity, and cooking fuel (e.g., LPG/PNG connections).

Assets: Ownership of items like mobile phones, bicycles, cars, and TVs.

Cereal Consumption: Household consumption patterns.

This phase will also involve appointing supervisors and enumerators, with approximately 3.4 million personnel involved nationwide. The data collected will lay the groundwork for the second phase.

Population Enumeration – February 1, 2027

The second phase will focus on detailed demographic and socio-economic data, including: Age, gender, and marital status. Education, occupation, and income and Caste and religion, marking the first time caste data will be officially included since 1931.

This phase will begin earlier (October 1, 2026) in snow-bound areas to accommodate logistical challenges.

What Questions Will Be Asked?

During the Houselisting Operation, households can expect questions about:

• Housing type (permanent, semi-permanent, or temporary).
• Access to drinking water, sanitation, and electricity.
• Ownership of assets like vehicles, electronics, and appliances.
• Cooking fuel usage and LPG/PNG connections.
• Cereal consumption patterns

In the Population Enumeration phase, questions will cover:

• Demographic details (age, gender, marital status).
• Socio-economic status (education, occupation, income).
• Caste and religion, a new addition to the census framework.

Preparations and Administrative Details

Freezing of Administrative Boundaries: To ensure smooth operations, administrative boundaries (districts, tehsils, etc.) will be frozen from December 31, 2025, to March 31, 2027. States and Union Territories must finalize any boundary changes by December 31, 2025.

Houselisting Blocks (HLBs): Administrative units will be divided into manageable sections called Houselisting Blocks (HLBs) for the HLO phase and Enumeration Blocks (EBs) for the population phase. These blocks ensure a fair workload for enumerators.
Budget and Resources: The census is estimated to cost over ₹13,000 crore, with ₹574 crore allocated in the 2025-26 budget. Additional funding is expected to pose no issues.
Training and Personnel: Refresher training for enumerators and supervisors is planned, with a possible pre-test to account for digital processes and new data fields like caste. 

Regional Variations and Timeline

• Snow-Bound Areas: The census will begin on October 1, 2026, in Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, with a reference date of 00:00 hours on the same day.
• Rest of India: The HLO starts April 1, 2026, with the Population Enumeration reference date set for March 1, 2027.
• Completion: The entire process, including both phases, is expected to conclude by March 31, 2027, with final data shaping policies and delimitation by 2028.

Census 2026 is a landmark event for India, combining modern technology with comprehensive data collection to shape the nation’s future policies. The houselisting phase, starting April 1, 2026, will set the stage for a detailed population count in 2027, with caste data adding a new dimension to the exercise. As India prepares for this decennial undertaking, the census will not only provide critical insights into the country’s demographic and socio-economic landscape but also influence political and developmental frameworks for years to come. Stay updated for more details as the process unfolds

Keywords: Census 2026, India census, houselisting operations, April 1 2026, population enumeration, caste census, digital census, India demographic data, Registrar General of India, delimitation 2027