The Indian government has unveiled the 33 questions for the first phase of Census 2027, set to begin on April 1, 2026, focusing on housing and household data.
The Central Government of India has officially released the list of 33 questions that will be posed during the first phase of Census 2027. This initial phase, known as the house listing and housing enumeration phase, is scheduled to commence on April 1, 2026.
The updated questionnaire introduces several new inquiries, including those related to internet access, mobile numbers, and the types of cereals consumed by households. Notably, the question regarding banking services, which was included in the 2011 census, has been removed.
The house listing exercise will take place over a 30-day period, with each state and union territory selecting a suitable 30-day window between April 1 and September 30, 2026. Additionally, citizens will have the opportunity to participate in a 15-day self-enumeration period prior to the official house listing.
Originally, the Census was slated for 2021; however, it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the inclusion of caste-related questions on April 30, 2025.
Officials have indicated that while data collection is expected to conclude by March 1, 2027, the process of compiling and releasing the final results may take an additional two to three years.
According to the official notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the following questions will be included in the first phase of Census 2027:
1. Building number (municipal/local authority or census number)
2. Census house number
3. Predominant material of the floor
4. Predominant material of the wall
5. Predominant material of the roof
6. Purpose of using the census house
7. Condition of the house
8. Household number
9. Total number of residents
10. Name of the head of household
11. Gender of the head of household
12. Whether the head belongs to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Other
13. Ownership status of the house
14. Number of rooms exclusively used by the household
15. Number of married couples living in the household
16. Main source of drinking water
17. Availability of drinking water source
18. Main source of lighting
19. Access to latrine
20. Type of latrine
21. Waste water outlet
22. Availability of bathing facility
23. Availability of kitchen and LPG/PNG connection
24. Main fuel used for cooking
25. Radio/Transistor ownership
26. Television ownership
27. Internet access
28. Laptop/Computer ownership
29. Telephone/Mobile/Smartphone ownership
30. Bicycle/Scooter/Motorcycle/Moped ownership
31. Car/Jeep/Van ownership
32. Main cereal consumed in the household
33. Mobile number (for census-related communication only)
This comprehensive questionnaire aims to gather detailed information about housing conditions, household facilities, and access to technology. The data collected will assist the government in planning future policies and development programs more effectively.
For more information, refer to the official notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs.