Delhi begins census 2027 field survey, over 700 officials deployed
The first phase of Census 2027 has begun in parts of Delhi, with more than 700 trained officials starting door-to-door visits to collect household data under the house listing and housing census exercise.
Officials said the fieldwork will continue till May 15 and will cover areas under the New Delhi Municipal Council and the Delhi Cantonment Board. These areas have been divided into 560 house listing blocks, with each block covering around 180 households to ensure systematic data collection.
The exercise marks the beginning of a two-phase census process in the capital, focusing initially on gathering details about housing conditions, household amenities, and basic personal information. Enumerators will visit each household and collect data using structured questionnaires or digital devices.
Authorities said the survey will include 33 notified questions related to living conditions, assets, and facilities available within households. The data will be recorded through a dedicated mobile application to improve accuracy and speed of processing.
Officials added that the census exercise in Delhi is part of a larger nationwide rollout that has begun simultaneously in several states and Union territories. These include Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, and Sikkim.
Before the start of physical visits, a self-enumeration facility was made available to residents. This allowed people to submit their details online through an official portal. However, the response in Delhi has been limited so far.
Officials said only around 5,000 people in NDMC and cantonment areas completed self-enumeration, compared to about 12 lakh participants across regions where the facility opened earlier this month.
Residents who have already completed self-enumeration have been advised to keep their unique identification number ready. They must share this ID with visiting enumerators for verification and completion of the process. Officials said enumerators will spend about 10 to 15 minutes at each household to ensure accurate data collection. In areas with a large working population, visits will be conducted after 6 pm to ensure residents are available.
Authorities also acknowledged that some residents may confuse the census exercise with other ongoing administrative processes. Officials noted that there is public anticipation around electoral roll revisions, and some people may mistake enumerators for election-related staff. Teams have been instructed to clearly explain the purpose of their visit and reassure residents.
The second phase of the census in Delhi will cover areas under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. In these regions, self-enumeration will begin on May 1, followed by house listing operations starting on May 16.
