Census 2027: Six awareness vans flagged off in Delhi for HLO outreach
Synopsis
India's long-delayed Census 2027 is moving fast — six awareness vans hit Delhi's streets on 7 May as the Houselisting phase accelerates, with 92 lakh households already self-enumerated digitally across 23 states. The capital's MCD areas have until 15 May to self-enumerate before enumerators begin door-to-door visits on 16 May.
Key Takeaways
RG & CCI flagged off six census awareness vans from Janganana Bhawan, New Delhi on 7 May 2025 .
The vans support the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) first phase under Census 2027 .
In MCD areas of Delhi, Self-Enumeration is open from 1 May to 15 May at se.census.gov.in ; door-to-door visits follow from 16 May to 14 June .
Approximately 92 lakh households across 23 States and UTs have completed Self-Enumeration nationally.
The HLO questionnaire covers 33 notified questions on housing, amenities, and household assets.
House-to-house enumerator visits are underway in 18 States and Union Territories as per the notified schedule.
The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RG & CCI) on Thursday, 7 May 2025, flagged off six awareness vans from Janganana Bhawan, New Delhi, as part of the Census 2027 public outreach campaign in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. The vans form part of the first phase of the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) operations, aimed at boosting public participation in the country's first digitally-enabled census.
What the Awareness Campaign Covers
The six vans will travel across Delhi NCT, carrying messages on census participation, the Self-Enumeration (SE) facility, key features of Census 2027, and the importance of cooperating with enumerators during field visits. According to an official statement, the campaign is designed to ensure wider dissemination of information, enhance public awareness, and facilitate smooth census operations across the capital.
HLO Operations: Area-Wise Schedule
Houselisting and Housing Census operations are currently underway across Delhi NCT in a phased manner. In the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Cantonment Board areas, the HLO Self-Enumeration window closed on 15 April, after which house-to-house visits by enumerators commenced on 16 April and are scheduled to conclude by 15 May.
In the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) areas, Self-Enumeration is currently ongoing. Residents can complete the process through the official Census portal at se.census.gov.in during the notified window from 1 May to 15 May. House-to-house Houselisting Operations by enumerators will follow from 16 May to 14 June.
Residents who have already completed Self-Enumeration are advised to keep their Self-Enumeration ID (SE ID) safe and share it with their assigned enumerator during the field visit to complete the HLO process.
National Response: 92 Lakh Households Enumerated
The Self-Enumeration facility — a first-of-its-kind digital inclusion introduced in Census 2027 — has reportedly received an encouraging response. According to official data, approximately 92 lakh households across 23 States and Union Territories have completed Self-Enumeration through the official portal so far.
The HLO Self-Enumeration window is currently also open in Telangana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, and Jharkhand. Meanwhile, house-to-house enumerator visits are underway in 18 States and Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, and several others, as per the notified schedule.
What the HLO Questionnaire Captures
The HLO phase involves collecting data through a structured questionnaire comprising 33 notified questions covering household details, housing conditions, available amenities, and assets possessed by households. The data gathered is intended to serve as an essential basis for planning, policy formulation, and effective delivery of public services by the government. This marks a significant step in India's decennial census exercise, which was delayed from its original 2021 schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Comes Next
With the HLO phase progressing across multiple states simultaneously, the government's focus remains on maximising household coverage before the enumeration windows close. The success of the Self-Enumeration mechanism will be closely watched as a model for future census exercises in a country of 1.4 billion people.
Point of View
And its success hinges entirely on whether ordinary households trust the process enough to participate. The 92-lakh figure sounds large until you consider India has over 30 crore households; penetration remains thin. The real test is whether the Self-Enumeration model reduces enumerator burden in dense urban areas like Delhi, or whether low digital literacy forces a fallback to traditional door-to-door methods anyway. The census was already delayed by four years from its original 2021 schedule — any further slippage in participation would compromise the data quality that underpins welfare targeting for a billion-plus population.
NationPress
9 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Census 2027 and why is it significant?
Census 2027 is India's decennial population and housing census, delayed from its original 2021 schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first census to introduce a digital Self-Enumeration facility, allowing households to submit data online before enumerators conduct field visits.
How can Delhi residents complete Self-Enumeration for Census 2027?
Residents in MCD areas of Delhi can complete Self-Enumeration at the official portal se.census.gov.in between 1 May and 15 May 2025. After completion, they must retain their Self-Enumeration ID (SE ID) to share with the enumerator during the subsequent house-to-house visit.
What is the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) phase?
The HLO is the first phase of Census 2027, involving the collection of data through a 33-question structured questionnaire covering household details, housing conditions, amenities, and assets. The data forms the basis for government planning and public service delivery.
How many households have completed Self-Enumeration so far?
According to official data, approximately 92 lakh households across 23 States and Union Territories have completed Self-Enumeration through the official census portal as of 7 May 2025.
Which states are currently conducting house-to-house enumerator visits?
House-to-house visits are currently underway in 18 States and Union Territories including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Goa, Mizoram, Sikkim, and others, as per the notified schedule.
