Full List of 33 Questions for Phase I of Census 2027

Census  2027: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has released a list of 33 questions for Phase I of Census 2027, which runs from April to September 2026. The first phase focuses on "Houselisting and Housing Enumeration." Key updates include more questions on internet access and cereal eating, while the topic on financial services has been removed. This experiment represents India's transition to an entirely digital census.

The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RG&CCI) under the Ministry of Home Affairs has officially notified the questionnaire for the first phase of Census 2027, which is important for population counting and will focus on household infrastructure and socioeconomic amenities across the country.

Key Highlights of the Census 2027: 

• Timeline: Phase I will be conducted between April 1 and September 30, 2026. Each State and Union Territory will choose a specific 30-day window within this period.

• Two-Phase Process: 

• Phase I (2026): House Listing and Housing Enumeration(a 30-day window per state)

• Phase II (2027): Population Enumeration (scheduled for February 2027).

• Digital Innovation: For the first time, data will be collected via mobile applications (Android and iOS) and featuring geo-tagging of residential structures to enhance disaster response and urban planning.

• Self-Enumeration: Citizens will have a 15-day self-enumeration window to fill in their details online before the enumerator’s visit.

Also Read: India's First Digital Census 2027 Notification Released: All You Need to Know

Census 2027 Phase I: Full List of The 33-Question 

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has officially released the questionnaire for the first phase of the Census of India 2027, which allows census officers to collect data according to a scheduled digital timetable. The Questionnaire highlights India's new digital world, changing food trends, and rising standard of living.

According to a gazette notification issued by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RG&CCI), the first phase will comprise houselisting and a housing census. It would include a comprehensive 33-question survey aiming at mapping the living conditions, amenities, and assets of Indian families.

What are the 33 Questions for Census 2027? 

The questionnaire comprises housing infrastructure, domestic amenities, and assets. Notably, the government has included questions on internet access and cereal consumption while deleting the previous question on financial services. Here is the full list of 33-Questions:

1. Building Number (Municipal or local authority number).

2. Census House Number.

3. Predominant material of the floor.

4. Predominant material of the wall.

5. Predominant material of the roof.

6. Use of the Census house (Residential, commercial, etc.).

7. Condition of the house (Good, livable, or dilapidated).

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 belongs to SC, ST, or Other.

13. Ownership status of the house (Owned or rented).

14. Number of dwelling rooms in possession of the household.

15. Number of married couples living in the household.

16. Main source of drinking water.

17. Availability of drinking water source (Within/Near/Away).

18. Main source of lighting (Electricity, solar, etc.).

19. Access to Latrine.

20. Type of latrine facility.

21. Wastewater outlet (Connection to drainage).

22. Availability of bathing facilities.

23. Availability of kitchen and LPG/PNG connection.

24. Main fuel used for cooking.

25. Radio/Transistor ownership.

26. Television ownership.

27. Access to the Internet.

28. Laptop/Computer ownership.

29. Telephone/Mobile phone/Smartphone ownership.

30. Bicycle/Scooter/Motorcycle/Moped ownership.

31. Car/Jeep/Van ownership.

32. Main cereal consumed in the household.

33. Mobile number (For census communication only).

Official Note: The reference date for the majority of India is March 1, 2027. For snow-bound areas like Ladakh and parts of Himachal Pradesh, the reference date is October 1, 2026

New for 2027: Digital & Caste Enumeration

1. The Digital Revolution

The government has officially confirmed that the 16th Census will be fully digital. Enumerators will use a dedicated app (Android and iOS), ensuring real-time data entry and faster processing. A 15-day window for self-enumeration will be provided just before the house-listing operations begin in each state.

2. The Historic Caste Census

While the 33 questions listed above apply to the Housing Phase (starting April 2026), the government has stated that caste enumeration will take place during the second phase (Population Enumeration) in February 2027. This data will be captured electronically to provide an accurate socio-economic profile of various communities across the nation.

The MHA released 33 questions for Census 2027 Phase I (Houselisting & Housing Enumeration), scheduled April-Sept 2026. This digital census introduces questions on internet access and cereal consumption, while removing financial services. It aims to map living conditions and amenities across India, utilizing mobile apps and a self-enumeration window for citizens.

Also Read: India's First Digital Census 2027 to Begin April 2026 with Self-Enumeration and Caste Data