Census 2027 First Phase: Full List of 33 Questions to Be Asked During House Listing Exercise

This phase will focus on collecting detailed information about housing conditions, household assets, and basic amenities. Compared to the 2011 Census, the updated questionnaire includes new questions on internet access, mobile numbers, and cereal consumption, while a question related to banking services has been removed.

Timeline and Methodology

The first phase of Census 2027 will be conducted over a 30-day period, with individual states and union territories choosing their enumeration window between April 1 and September 30, 2026.

Residents will also have the option of self-enumeration during a 15-day window prior to the start of the official house-listing period.

Although the data collection process is expected to conclude by March 1, 2027, officials said that data compilation, verification, and publication may take an additional two to three years.

The Census was originally scheduled for 2021 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision to include caste-related data in the upcoming Census was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in April last year.

Census 2027: Complete List of Questions (Phase 1)

As per the official notification, enumerators will collect the following information during the house listing exercise:

1. Building number (municipal, local authority, or census number)

2. Census house number

3. Predominant material of floor

4. Predominant material of walls

5. Predominant material of roof

6. Use of the census house

7. Condition of the census house

8. Household number

9. Total number of persons normally residing in the household

10. Name of the head of the household

11. Sex of the head of the household

12. Whether the head of the household belongs to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, or other category

13. Ownership status of the census house

14. Number of dwelling 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. Wastewater outlet

22. Availability of bathing facility

23. Availability of kitchen and LPG/PNG connection

24. Main fuel used for cooking

25. Radio or transistor

26. Television

27. Access to internet

28. Laptop or computer

29. Telephone, mobile phone, or smartphone

30. Bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, or moped

31. Car, jeep, or van

32. Main cereal consumed in the household

33. Mobile number (for census-related communication only)