India Census 2027 Phase 1: Check Full State-Wise Schedule, Key Dates & Digital Census Details

India has officially launched the India Census 2027 Phase 1 from the month of April, the start of the house listing and housing census 2026, the first step in the country's once-in-a-decade population exercise. Conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, this phase began on April 1, 2026, and will continue till September 30, 2026, covering all 36 States and Union Territories.

This India Census 2026-27 phase 1 is historic as it introduces a fully digital census India, along with a first-ever self-enumeration option, allowing citizens to submit their data online before the physical survey begins.

India Census 2027 Timeline: Key Dates You Must Know

The India census 2027 schedule is spread across two major phases:

Phase 1 (House Listing and Housing Census): April 1-September 30, 2026

Phase 2 (Population Enumeration): February 2027

The Total budget for the census will be Rs. 11,718.24 crore, and the total number of Enumerators deployed is over 31 lakh. Villages covered in the census: Around 6,39,902. Citizens can access the India census self-enumeration portal at se.census.gov.in to complete the process online.

Historic Firsts in India Census 2027

The census 2027 india digital rollout introduces three major milestones, India's first fully digital census (no paper forms). First-ever self-enumeration census india online option. First caste census india since 1931, to be conducted in Phase 2.

India Census 2026 Phase 1: Complete State-Wise Schedule

The India Census 2026 phase 1 state-wise schedule has been carefully structured to ensure smooth execution across the country. Here is the detailed schedule:

April 2026 Schedule

Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Delhi (NDMC & Delhi Cantonment Board), Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram,Odisha, Sikkim

Self-enumeration: April 1 - April 15, 2026
House listing: April 16 - May 15, 2026

Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
Self-enumeration: April 5 - April 19, 2026
House listing: April 20 - May 19, 2026 (subject to change)

Uttarakhand
Self-enumeration: April 10 - April 24, 2026
House listing: April 25 - May 24, 2026

Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana
Self-enumeration: April 16 - April 30, 2026

House listing: May 1 - May 30, 2026

Bihar
Self-enumeration: April 17 - May 1, 2026
House listing: May 2 - May 31, 2026

Telangana
Self-enumeration: April 26 - May 10, 2026
House listing: May 11 - June 9, 2026

Punjab
Self-enumeration: April 30 - May 14, 2026
House listing: May 15 - June 13, 2026

May-June 2026 Schedule

Delhi (MCD), Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Jharkhand
Self-enumeration: May 1 - May 15, 2026
House listing: May 16 - June 14, 2026

(Jharkhand HLO notification to be issued separately)

Uttar Pradesh
Self-enumeration: May 7 - May 21, 2026
House listing: May 22 - June 20, 2026

Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Puducherry
Self-enumeration: May 17 - May 31, 2026
House listing: June 1 - June 30, 2026

June-July 2026 Schedule

Himachal Pradesh
Self-enumeration: June 1 - June 15, 2026
House listing: June 16 - July 15, 2026

Kerala, Nagaland
Self-enumeration: June 16 - June 30, 2026
House listing: July 1 - July 30, 2026

July-September 2026 Schedule

Tamil Nadu, Tripura
Self-enumeration: July 17 - July 31, 2026
House listing: August 1 - August 30, 2026

Assam
Self-enumeration: August 2 - August 16, 2026
House listing: August 17 - September 15, 2026

Manipur
Self-enumeration: August 17 - August 31, 2026
House listing: September 1 - September 30, 2026

West Bengal Schedule yet to be announced

Census 2027 Phase 2: Population & Caste Enumeration

The India Census 2027 phase 2 population enumeration will begin in February 2027, and will include the much-awaited caste enumeration India 2027, the first since 1931.

What If You Miss Self-Enumeration?

If you do not complete the India census self-enumeration, an enumerator will visit your home during the house listing phase. For example, in Karnataka, the census house listing Karnataka 2026 is scheduled from April 16 to May 15, 2026, after the self-enumeration window of April 1-15.