16th Census of India

16th Census of India

  • Context:

  • The Government of India has formally notified the house listing and housing Census, the foundational phase of the 16th Census of India.

  • After a six-year delay, this exercise is scheduled between April 1 and September 30, 2026.

  • Key Features & Methodology:

  • For the first time, the Census will primarily use a mobile application for data collection, supporting offline entry with automatic syncing.

  • A novel feature is allowing households to fill details online via a government portal, which enumerators will later verify.

  • Each Census house will be geo-tagged to ensure precise mapping and prevent duplication.

  • Supervisors will use the Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS)to track progress via dashboards.

  • Phases of Enumeration of 16th Census:

  • First and foundational phase of the exercise: House-listing and Housing Census, in which Government notified questions will be asked.

  • Slated to be carried out between April 1 and September 30, 2026,

  • The second phase, population enumeration, will begin in February 2027.

  • This Census will also include the first nationwide caste enumeration since 1931.

  • House-listing vs. Population Enumeration:

  • House-listing focuses on structures and amenities (where and how people live), creating an inventory of buildings and assigning unique Census house numbers.

  • Population Enumeration focuses on counting individuals and their socio-economic details, which follows the house-listing phase.

  • Questionnaire Highlights (33 Items):

  • the government has authorised officers to collect information under 33 items, broadly fall under six categories:

  • Identification of structure including building number and materials used

  • Household composition, including total number of persons, name and sex of the head of household and whether they belong to SC/ST or other category.

  • Ownership status and space, includes overcrowded and housing shortages

  • Water, sanitation and access to energy (Source of lighting/ LPG/PNG)

  • Fuel and Digital Connectivity, including access to internet.

  • Assets and Consumption: Ownership of assets such as radio, TV, laptop 2/3/4 wheelers

  • Significance:

  • Data on housing, water, and fuel directly informs schemes like PM Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, and Ujjwala.

  • The inclusion of internet and asset questions reflects a shift in defining deprivation from basic shelter to connectivity and mobility.