The House-Listing and Housing Census (HLO) is set to commence in eight states and union territories, as well as specific high-profile areas of the national capital. This 30-day exercise, scheduled to conclude on May 15, involves physical visits to households to document living conditions, amenities, and assets.
Field Operations Kick-Off
Starting today, enumerators will begin door-to-door visits in the following regions:
States & UTs: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, and Sikkim.
Delhi Focus: Jurisdiction areas of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB).
Officials have divided the NDMC and DCB areas into 560 house-listing blocks, with each block consisting of roughly 180 households. To accommodate the working population in these urban hubs, enumerators are scheduled to visit homes after 6:00 PM, spending approximately 10–15 minutes per household.
Mixed Response to Self-Enumeration
The field visits follow a 15-day “self-enumeration” window that closed on Wednesday. The digital-first initiative saw varying levels of engagement:
Nationwide: Approximately 12 lakh (1.2 million) people successfully submitted their details online.
Delhi (NDMC/DCB): Participation was significantly lower, with only about 5,000 residents opting for the self-service portal.
Note for Residents: If you have already self-enumerated, please keep your Self-Enumeration ID ready. Sharing this with the visiting enumerator will significantly speed up the process and complete your HLO requirement.
The HLO Questionnaire: What to Expect
Enumerators will use a dedicated mobile application to record data digitally across 33 notified questions. Key areas of inquiry include:
Housing Conditions: Type of structure, ownership status, and number of rooms.
Amenities: Access to drinking water, electricity, and sanitation facilities.
Household Assets: Ownership of items such as vehicles, computers, and communication devices.
Distinguishing Census from SIR
Government officials have noted potential confusion among Delhi residents between the Census and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls currently underway.
Enumerators have been instructed to proceed with caution, clearly explaining that their visit is for the National Census and not for voter list updates. This distinction is crucial for data accuracy and resident cooperation.
Next Phase: MCD Areas
The census cycle for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) areas will follow a slightly different timeline:
Self-Enumeration: Opens May 1, 2026.
House-Listing (Field Visits): Commences May 16, 2026.