Delhi begins its census first phase today, as officials conduct door-to-door surveys in MCD areas with 33 questions

The first phase of the Census-2027 housing survey has officially begun in Delhi, marking a major step in the nationwide data collection exercise. Starting Saturday, trained field workers will conduct door-to-door visits across areas under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to gather detailed information about households, buildings, and basic civic amenities. According to officials, more than 50,000 employees have been deployed across 12 districts of Delhi to carry out this large-scale operation. During the survey, residents will be asked a structured housing questionnaire consisting of 33 questions. These questions cover essential details such as household composition, housing conditions, access to basic facilities, and other demographic and infrastructural information. Authorities have also clarified that households that have already completed the online self-enumeration process will not be surveyed again from scratch. Instead, their submitted information will be verified by field staff. Residents are required to show the acknowledgment ID received after completing the online form to confirm their details. The housing survey in Delhi officially began on April 16. In the first phase, areas under the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Cantonment were covered, and officials confirmed that the survey in these regions has already been successfully completed. The current phase now extends the process to all MCD regions, covering a much larger population and geographical area. Officials have emphasized the importance of cooperation from residents. If individuals refuse to provide information, survey staff will first attempt to persuade them. However, repeated refusal may lead to legal consequences under Section 11 of the Census Act, 1948. The law allows for a penalty of up to ₹1,000 and, in serious cases, possible imprisonment of up to three years. Meanwhile, the self-enumeration phase has shown significant participation. Between May 1 and May 15, a large number of residents in Delhi completed their census details online. Out of more than 1.54 lakh participants, around 1.34 lakh successfully completed the process across MCD areas. Officials also noted that Delhi has approximately 30 to 32 lakh houses, which have been divided into nearly 46,000 houselisting blocks, each covering about 180 to 200 homes. Data from the survey shows variation across districts. The South-West district recorded the highest participation in self-enumeration, followed closely by North-West and North-East districts. In contrast, Old Delhi reported the lowest participation levels. Overall, the Census-2027 housing survey aims to create a comprehensive and updated database of housing and population details across Delhi, ensuring better planning and resource allocation in the future.