Chandigarh, April 14
A press conference was held today jointly by Dr. Navjot Khosa, IAS, Director, Census Operations, UT Chandigarh, and Nishant Kumar Yadav, IAS, Deputy Commissioner cum Principal Census Officer, UT Chandigarh, to brief the media on the forthcoming Census 2027 activities, particularly Phase–I, the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO).
The Census of India, conducted under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948 and Census Rules, 1990, is a Union subject and represents one of the largest administrative exercises in the world. Census 2027 will be the 16th Census in India and the 8th after Independence. The last Census was conducted in 2011, while the 2021 Census was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials emphasized that census data serves as the primary source for planning welfare schemes, policy formulation, infrastructure development, and allocation of resources. It also plays a crucial role in delimitation of constituencies and supports research and development activities.
Census 2027 in UT Chandigarh will be conducted in two phases. Phase–I, the Houselisting and Housing Census, will include a Self-Enumeration period from April 16 to April 30, 2026, followed by house-to-house enumeration from May 1 to May 30, 2026. Phase–II, the Population Enumeration, is scheduled for February 2027, with September 2026 earmarked for snow-bound areas. Phase–I will focus on housing conditions, amenities, and assets, forming the basis for the second phase.
Officials highlighted several key features of Census 2027, including the first-ever digital census using mobile applications, the introduction of Self-Enumeration through an online portal, real-time monitoring via the Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS), and the use of web-based mapping for creation of Houselisting Blocks. Citizens can participate in Self-Enumeration through the official portal (https://se.census.gov.in) during the specified period. After submission, a unique SE ID will be generated, which must be shared with the enumerator during field verification to confirm inclusion in the Census.
In terms of administrative arrangements, a total of 2,045 Houselisting Blocks have been created in UT Chandigarh. To carry out the exercise, 2,250 enumerators and 375 supervisors, including reserves, have been appointed. The Deputy Commissioner has been designated as the Principal Census Officer. Comprehensive training programmes for census functionaries have already been conducted, with further training for enumerators and supervisors scheduled from April 16 to April 29, 2026.
The media has been requested to play a proactive role in spreading awareness, encouraging public participation, and countering misinformation, particularly regarding digital enumeration and data confidentiality. Citizens have been urged to actively participate in the Census process, provide accurate information, and extend full cooperation to enumerators. Officials reiterated that all information collected will be kept strictly confidential and used only for statistical purposes. The Census, they stressed, is not merely a data collection exercise but a foundation for national planning and development.
A national toll-free helpline number (1855) for Census 2027 will be operational from April 16, 2026, in UT Chandigarh. The helpline will assist the public with queries related to Self-Enumeration, Houselisting Operations, registering complaints, and speaking directly with helpdesk officers.
Also present at the press conference were Amandeep Singh Bhatti, Additional Deputy Commissioner, UT Chandigarh; Rajiv Tewari, Director Public Relations and other officials of the Chandigarh Administration and Census office.
