New Delhi: All major political parties in the country have their eyes set on the caste census. For the first time in independent India’s history, a significant step has been taken toward conducting a caste-based census. On Saturday, the government initiated the first phase of this process—House Listing and Housing Census (HLO)—by launching the trial of the self-enumeration module developed for it. During this phase, enumerators (census officials) will visit the homes of selected citizens to assist them in filling out their details on the official website.
According to media reports citing a senior government official, the trial will be conducted in two phases. From November 1 to 7, individuals will be able to participate through online self-enumeration, while from November 10 to 30, enumerators will conduct door-to-door visits to collect additional data.
This exercise marks the first phase of the 2027 census, which will focus on gathering basic information related to housing and family structures. The entire census process will be carried out in two stages between April 1, 2026, and February 28, 2027.
