MHA Initiates Phase‑I Houselisting & Housing Census Field Operations in Five States; Self‑Enumeration Extends to Nine States/UTs

<h2>Field Operations of Houselisting &amp; Housing Census 2027 Commence in Five States</h2> <p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Ministry of Home Affairs — the central government ministry responsible for internal security, law and order, and overseeing the Census operation (GS2: Polity)">Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)</span> has started Phase‑I <span class="key-term" data-definition="Houselisting and Housing Census — a component of the decennial Census that records details of each dwelling and household; crucial for planning housing and welfare schemes (GS3: Economy)">Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO)</span> in Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) area. Simultaneously, the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Self‑Enumeration — an online facility allowing households to submit their census information themselves, introduced to digitise the Census process (GS3: Economy)">Self‑Enumeration (SE)</span> portal is live in Gujarat, Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Ladakh, Puducherry and Uttar Pradesh.</p> <h3>Key Developments</h3> <ul> <li>Field operations began on <strong>16 April 2026</strong> in the five states/UTs mentioned above.</li> <li>SE is open until <strong>31 May 2026</strong> in Gujarat, J&amp;K, Ladakh and Puducherry; in Uttar Pradesh it closes on <strong>21 May 2026</strong>.</li> <li>Physical house‑to‑house listing by <span class="key-term" data-definition="Enumerators — trained field staff deployed by the Census to collect data house‑to‑house, now using digital tools (GS3: Economy)">Enumerators</span> continues in 12 other states, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana.</li> <li>More than <strong>1.44 crore households</strong> have already completed SE across 25 states/UTs.</li> <li>Data collection uses <span class="key-term" data-definition="digital enumeration — the use of mobile applications and online portals for collecting census data, marking a shift from paper‑based methods (GS3: Economy)">digital enumeration</span> via a dedicated mobile app, covering 33 notified questions on housing, amenities and assets.</li> </ul> <h3>Important Facts</h3> <p>The earlier phase (16 April‑15 May 2026) covered Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, Sikkim, NDMC and Delhi Cantonment Board. The SE portal (se.census.gov.in) is a first‑time feature, aiming to digitise the Census and reduce manual errors. Residents who have completed SE must present their SE ID to the Enumerator for verification. Households not using SE will be visited physically.</p> <h3>UPSC Relevance</h3> <p>Understanding the Census process is vital for GS‑3 (Economy) as the data informs allocation of central funds, planning of housing schemes, and assessment of socio‑economic indicators. The role of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Census Act, 1948 — the legislation that governs the conduct of the Census in India, ensuring confidentiality and statistical use of data (GS2: Polity)">Census Act, 1948</span> underscores constitutional and legal frameworks covered in GS‑2 (Polity). The use of digital tools reflects India’s broader e‑governance agenda, a recurring theme in GS‑4 (Ethics) and GS‑3.</p> <h3>Way Forward</h3> <p>Enumerators will complete house‑to‑house listing in the remaining states by the end of June 2026. The Ministry urges citizens to cooperate, submit SE IDs, and ensure accurate data capture. Successful digital integration will set a precedent for future decennial Censuses, enhancing policy‑making and resource distribution.</p>