Houselisting (Houselisting and Housing Census, HLO) UPSC relevant
Houselisting is the first phase of the Indian census, in which every building and census house is identified, numbered and listed, and data are collected on housing conditions, household amenities (drinking water, latrine, lighting, cooking fuel, internet) and assets.
It creates the frame of houses and households on which Phase 2 (Population Enumeration) is built. For Census 2027, the Houselisting and Housing Census runs April 1 to September 30, 2026, as a 30-day operation in each State/UT (dates chosen by the State/UT), preceded by an optional 15-day self-enumeration window. September 2026 is the final month of the HLO window. For the first time, houselisting data are captured digitally through the HLO Mobile Application instead of paper schedules.