Census 2027: From Roofs to Grains, 33 Questions to Capture Complete Household Data

Patna: Preparations for India’s Census 2027 are gaining momentum as the central government directs all states to complete the first phase of “house listing and housing enumeration” between April 1 and September 30. Bihar has taken a lead with Patna district set up as a model for district-level coordination committees, while Rajasthan has already released the official list of census questions.

Patna District as a Model
The Census Directorate of Bihar is establishing coordination committees in all districts. Patna has created a district-level committee to oversee training, data collection, and monitoring of census officers. This framework is expected to be implemented across other districts in Bihar.

According to directives from the Registrar General of India, Mr. Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, this census will be more detailed than previous ones, featuring 33 key questions that will cover housing, family, and household facilities.

33 Key Questions in Census 2027
Census officials will collect information on:

1. Building number (urban/local authority/census number)
2. Census house number
3. Main material used for the floor
4. Main material used for the walls
5. Main material used for the roof
6. House usage
7. House condition
8. Family serial number
9. Total usual residents in the household
10. Name of the head of the household
11. Gender of the head of the household
12. Social category of the head (SC/ST/Other)
13. House ownership status
14. Number of rooms available for living
15. Number of married couples in the household
16. Main source of drinking water
17. Availability of drinking water
18. Main source of lighting
19. Access to toilet facilities
20. Type of toilet
21. Wastewater drainage system
22. Availability of bathing facilities
23. Kitchen and LPG/PNG connection
24. Primary fuel used for cooking
25. Radio/Transistor
26. Television
27. Internet access
28. Laptop/Computer
29. Telephone/Mobile/Smartphone
30. Bicycle/Scooter/Motorcycle/Moped
31. Car/Jeep/Van
32. Main cereals consumed by the family
33. Mobile number (for census communication only)

Six-Month Timeline for First Phase
The government has mandated that the first phase, which includes housing enumeration and collection of basic household data, must be completed within six months. States are free to allocate a 30-day window for fieldwork within this period.

From Infrastructure to Household Amenities
The survey will gather detailed data, including construction materials used in roofs, walls, and floors, as well as household demographics, social categories, ownership status, and consumption patterns. It will also record the availability of modern amenities, cooking fuels, and vehicles. This comprehensive digital survey aims to provide an accurate snapshot of India’s housing and living standards for the first time.