Government of India Issues Official Notification for Census of India 2027
Houselisting and Housing Census Details Released
The Government of India, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, has officially issued a notification regarding the Census of India 2027. The notification was published in The Gazette of India (Extraordinary) on 22 January 2026, under Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii).
This notification authorizes Census Officers to collect specific household and housing-related information during the Houselisting and Housing Census phase of Census 2027.
Legal Basis of the Notification
The notification has been issued under:
Section 8(1) of the Census Act, 1948
It supersedes earlier notifications related to the Census
Issued by the Office of the Registrar General, India
The notification empowers Census Officers to collect information from every household within their assigned jurisdiction.
Purpose of Houselisting and Housing Census 2027
The Houselisting phase is conducted before the population enumeration and focuses on:
Housing conditions
Household amenities
Basic infrastructure availability
Socio-economic indicators
This data helps the government in:
Policy planning
Infrastructure development
Welfare scheme implementation
Urban and rural development strategies
List of Information to Be Collected in Census 2027
As per the official notification, the following 33 items will be collected from households:
Building number (Municipal / Local Authority / Census Number)
Census house number
Predominant material of floor
Predominant material of wall
Predominant material of roof
Use of census house
Condition of census house
Household number
Total persons normally residing in the household
Name of head of the household
Sex of the head of the household
Whether the head belongs to SC / ST / Other
Ownership status of the census house
Number of dwelling rooms
Number of married couples living in the household
Main source of drinking water
Availability of drinking water source
Main source of lighting
Access to latrine
Type of latrine
Waste water outlet
Availability of bathing facility
Availability of kitchen and LPG/PNG connection
Main fuel used for cooking
Radio / Transistor
Television
Internet facility
Laptop / Computer
Telephone / Mobile Phone / Smartphone
Bicycle / Scooter / Motorcycle / Moped
Car / Jeep / Van
Main cereal consumed by the household
Mobile number (only for census-related communication)
Important Clarification on Mobile Number
The notification clearly states that mobile numbers will be collected only for census-related communication and not for any other purpose.
Authority and Signature
The notification has been issued under the authority of:
Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan
Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India
Why This Notification Is Important
Confirms official commencement of Census 2027 preparation
Defines exact data points to be collected
Ensures legal clarity and transparency
Helps citizens understand what information will be asked
Conclusion
The Gazette notification marks a crucial step towards the Census of India 2027, ensuring a structured and legally-backed approach to data collection. Citizens are advised to cooperate with Census officials and provide accurate information when approached.
This data will play a key role in shaping India’s development policies for the coming decade.
