New Delhi, Jan 22: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday issued a fresh notification authorising census officials to collect detailed housing and household information across the country as part of the Census of India 2027.
The notification, issued by the Office of the Registrar General of India, empowers census officers to gather information under Section 8(1) of the C ensus Act, 1948.
It supersedes an earlier notification dated January 7, 2020, while safeguarding actions already taken under the previous order.
According to the notification, census officials will collect data through the houselisting and housing census schedule, covering a wide range of structural, demographic and amenity-related details of households.
These include identification particulars such as building number and census house number, along with information on the predominant materials used for the floor, wall and roof of houses, the condition and use of census houses, and ownership status.
Household-level data to be collected will cover the total number of residents, name and sex of the head of the household, social category status, number of dwelling rooms, and the number of married couples living in a household.
The notification also mandates collection of information on access to basic amenities and services.
These include the main source and availability of drinking water, source of lighting, access to latrines and their type, waste water outlets, bathing facilities, and availability of kitchen and LPG or PNG connections, as well as the main fuel used for cooking.
In addition, census officials will record the availability of consumer durables and communication facilities such as radio or transistor, television, internet access, laptops or computers, and telephones or mobile phones including smartphones.
Data on ownership of vehicles – ranging from bicycles and two-wheelers to cars, jeeps and vans ñ will also be collected.
The notification further specifies that information on the main cereal consumed in the household will be gathered.
Mobile numbers may also be collected strictly for census-related communications, it clarifies.
The order states that census officers will collect this information within their respective local jurisdictions from all persons, as part of preparations for the nationwide Census 2027.
The notification has been signed by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan.
The Census of India is one of the largest administrative and statistical exercises in the world, and the forthcoming 2027 Census is expected to provide updated insights into Indiaís housing conditions, access to amenities, and household characteristics, which are critical for policy planning and welfare interventions.
