Officials Conducting Preliminary Examination of Census 2027 in Anupshahr, Bulandshahr District of Uttar Pradesh | Photo credit: The Hindu
If a living couple considers their relationship to be a stable union, they should be treated as a married couple in the census, according to the frequently asked questions (FAQ) listed on the self-enumeration portal.
The portal has been opened for people who choose to enumerate themselves during the census. It will be available for both phases of the census – Census of Houses and Flats (HLO) and Census of Population.
The portal includes a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) so that the public can easily answer questions raised during the country’s 16th Census.
“Will a couple in a live-in relationship be considered a married couple? If they consider their relationship to be a stable union, they should be treated as a married couple,” the FAQ states.
The government has announced 33 questions that will be asked to citizens during the first phase of the census of houses and apartments, which begins on April 1, 2026.
In the first phase, questions will be asked such as the material used for the floor and roof of the house, the number of married couples there, the gender of the person at the head of the household, the type of cereals consumed, access to basic and modern needs and the types of vehicles owned.
The questions start by asking for the building number (municipal or local authority or inventory number), the inventory number of the house, the predominant material used for the floor, wall and roof of the house.
The enumerators will then ask about the use of the house, its condition and the number of people normally living in the household.
Officials will also collect information about the household head such as name and gender, whether the household head belongs to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe or other communities and ownership status.
Published – March 30, 2026 11:27 AM IST
