New Delhi, June 30 -- India will begin its 16th national census - and the eighth since Independence - from April 1, 2026, starting with the house listing and housing census. This will mark the first phase of the decennial exercise, as announced by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, in official communication to all states and union territories.

In this first phase, enumerators will collect information about the condition, ownership, and facilities of every residential structure, including details like water source, type of toilet, availability of cooking gas, and housing materials used. Enumerators and supervisors will be appointed before the process begins, and responsibilities will be distri...