Census 2027 houselisting: 23 States/UTs complete phase I

Phase-I Houselisting and Housing Census under Census 2027 is complete in 23 States and UTs, MHA said on 16 June 2026. Himachal Pradesh began house-to-house visits (till 15 July). Kerala and Nagaland opened self-enumeration till 30 June. Field work is on in Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Puducherry and Uttar Pradesh.
- Release
- 16 Jun 2026, Ministry of Home Affairs
- Phase
- Phase-I: Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO)
- Completed
- 23 States/UTs
- Himachal
- HLO field ops begun; till 15 Jul 2026
- Kerala & Nagaland
- Self-Enumeration till 30 Jun; HLO 1 to 30 Jul 2026
- Questionnaire
- 33 notified questions (housing, amenities, assets)
Census 2027 houselisting progress: what happened?
Census 2027 is India’s first digital census for data collection, still with door-to-door visits. Houselisting comes first: houses, amenities and assets, before the population count.
- Self-Enumeration portal: se.census.gov.in; residents should keep the SE ID for the enumerator.
- HLO finished (16 May to 14 Jun 2026) in Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and the MCD area of Delhi; Punjab concluded 13 Jun 2026.
- Data via dedicated mobile app; confidentiality under the Census Act, 1948.
Who runs the Census?
- Census is a Union subject: List I, Entry 69 of the Seventh Schedule.
- Operations run under the Census Act, 1948; information is for statistical and planning use only.
Why does Census 2027 houselisting progress matter?
- Governance: Phase-I coverage expanding State by State.
- Digital: Self-enumeration plus mobile app, with door-to-door backup.
What can Prelims ask on Census 2027 houselisting progress?
- 23 States/UTs completed Census 2027 Phase-I (as of 16 Jun 2026).
- HLO questionnaire: 33 notified questions.
- Census: List I Entry 69; Census Act, 1948.
- SE portal: se.census.gov.in.
What should UPPCS aspirants note?
- House-to-house Houselisting field operations are underway in Uttar Pradesh along with Gujarat, J&K, Ladakh and Puducherry.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB (2026-06-16): houselisting field operations began in Himachal Pradesh (till 15 July); self-enumeration began in Kerala and Nagaland; house-to-house work is on in Gujarat, J&K, Ladakh, Puducherry and UP; 23 States/UTs have completed the first phase of Census 2027.
- The data will be used for delimitation, welfare targeting and planning.
Quotable data pointHouselisting field operations began in Himachal Pradesh (till 15 July).
PIB: MHA: Census HLO update, 16 Jun 2026
Exam angle
Prelims: Census phases, self-enumeration.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
As of 16 June 2026, how many States/UTs had completed Phase-I of Census 2027?
Answer (b) & explanation
PIB (MHA), 16 Jun 2026.
"Census" appears in which Seventh Schedule list?
Answer (a) & explanation
Constitution of India, List I, Entry 69.
Questions students ask about this
How many States/UTs have finished Phase-I so far?
23, as listed in the 16 June 2026 MHA release.
What is new about Census 2027 methods?
Digital tools and a mobile app for data collection, with traditional door-to-door enumeration retained.
Where can residents self-enumerate?
On se.census.gov.in during their State's Self-Enumeration window.
Keep studying
Go deeper
Official source: PIB: MHA: Census HLO update, 16 Jun 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending