Census 2026 Kicks Off: House Listing Explained, Multi-Property Owners Impact

• Census 2026 begins with house listing from April 1, 2026, after a COVID-19 delay, conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India under MHA.
• New features include digital data collection, self-enumeration via mobile app, and inclusion of caste-related data.
• The first phase (April-Sept 2026) focuses on house details and amenities, also facilitating National Population Register (NPR) updates.
• No personal demographic information (name, age, gender) is collected in the first phase; it's reserved for the second phase (Feb 2027).
• Owning multiple properties has no special scrutiny; census data is for statistical purposes, not taxation or legal proof. Refusal to cooperate is an offense.

Why It Matters: Census 2026's first phase focuses on house listing and NPR update, crucial for policy, not personal scrutiny.