HLO QUESTIONS FAQ – CENSUS 2027

What is Census House?

A ‘Census House’ is a Building or part of a Building used or recognized as a separate unit

because of having a separate main entrance from the road or common courtyard or
staircase etc.

Predominant Material of Floor

My house has different flooring materials in different rooms. There is only one option to select
for material of floor. Which one should I select?

If different rooms have different flooring, record the material used predominantly. For
example:

• If only the drawing room has mosaic but all other rooms have cement,
record 'Cement'.

• If only the bathroom has cement but all other rooms have tiles or mosaic,
record 'Mosaic/Floor Tiles'.

My house has marble flooring. This is not listed in the options under material of floor. What
should I select?

Select ‘Stone’.

Predominant Material of Wall

The walls of my house are made of many different types of materials. Which material should I
choose from the given options?

Select the material that is used predominantly in your house.

I am staying in a rented house and the wall is plastered and painted - how do I know the real
material of the wall?

In case of confusion, you may ask the landlord or housing society. You must ensure the
type of inner material as it is an important indicator for deciding Kutcha or Pucca houses.
If you are not at all able to ascertain, select option 'Any Other'

My house walls are made of stone but there are two options in stone - one is Stone packed with
mortar and the other one is Stone not packed with mortar. Which one should I select?

If stones are loose and not joined with mortar, record Stone not packed with mortar. If
stones are joined with cement or lime, record Stone packed with mortar.

In my region, we use Bamboo or Ekra matting for walls. But there is no such option for material
of Wall. Which option should I select then?

Select the option ‘Grass/thatch/bamboo etc.’ for walls made of bamboo or Ekra.

My house walls are made of plywood and laminated boards but there is no such option to select
for material of wall. Which one should I select?

Select the option ‘Wood’ for walls made of plywood and laminated boards.
 Predominant Material of Roof

I have two ceilings in my house which are made of different materials. So, for selecting the
material of roof, which material I need to select - material of the outer roof or inner ceiling?

Select the material out of which the major portion of the roof of the house is made. Do
not take inside false ceiling. In a multi-storey building, select the roof material directly
above your own floor or flat. If the roof has more than one material, choose the material
that covers the maximum area.

I live on the 5th floor of a 10 floor Apartment. The roof of my floor is concrete, but roof of the
topmost floor is made of asbestos sheets. Then what will be the material of my roof. Is it
Concrete or asbestos sheets?

In your case, since you stay in 5th floor, so the material of roof of your floor will be
considered i.e., you should select ‘Concrete’.

The roof of my house covered with Khaprail. But I don't see any such option under material of
the roof. Which one should I select?

Khaprail /Kavelu/Khapra are traditional, handmade roofing tiles, also known as "country
tiles". You can select the option 'Handmade tiles' in this case.

The roof of my house has two materials - mix of tin and tiles. What should I choose for material
of the roof - tin or tiles?

Select the material that covers largest portion of the roof. If there is a tie, in rare cases,
select any one of the materials used in the roof.

Condition of the Census House

Are there any benchmark criteria for assessing the condition of house as Good, Livable and
Dilapidated?

Condition of House can be marked ‘Good’ if it does not require any repair, ‘Livable’ if
minor repair is required and ‘Dilapidated’ if major repair is required or it’s condition is
ruined and its beyond repair.

My house is under repair and it will be completed soon. What option I need to choose from
Good, Livable and Dilapidated?

• If nobody is staying during repairs, then its Vacant and hence condition of house not
to be filled.

• If you are still living there and repairs are minor, then you can select ‘Livable’ from the
options.

• If the house is unsafe/major structural repairs underway, you need to select

‘Dilapidated’
 Total number of persons normally residing in the Household

What is the meaning of 'Normally residing in the Household' under the question "Total number
of persons normally residing in this household"?

Everyone who usually lives in your household, even if they’re temporarily away while you
submit the self-enumeration. Casual visitors to the household need to be excluded
while counting the number of persons who normally reside in your household.

My daughter is staying away in other city for studies. Should I count her for total number of
persons normally residing in our family?

If your daughter does not live with you normally for most of the year, she should not be
counted in your household. She will be counted at her normal place of stay.

Head of the Household

Who is considered the head of the household?

The person recognized by the family as the head, who manages household affairs and
makes important decisions is considered Head of the household. The head of the
household need not necessarily be the eldest male member, but can be of any gender
or a younger member normally residing in the household.

SC/ST or Other

My caste is not available in the list provided by Census of India. What caste should I select?

Each State and Union Territory has its own notified list of Scheduled Castes (SC) and
Scheduled Tribes (ST). Census of India has compiled it and has given the list of all
States/UTs. If your caste or tribe name is not listed in your State/UT list, you can select
Other from the options.

Why is my Tribe name not in the Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe list provided by Census of
India?

Only those castes or tribes officially notified by Government of India for your State/UT
are listed. A community recognized as SC/ST in one State/UT may not be recognized in
another.

Ownership Status of the house

I live in a rented house but have parental house elsewhere. In the 'Ownership Status of this
house' What should I select?

If you live in a rented house but have your own house elsewhere in India, either parental
or own purchased, please select 'rented but has own house elsewhere' from the
options.

What comes under "Any Other" ownership status of House?

This includes people living in unauthorized houses, encroached land, slum areas,
abandoned buildings, under-construction structures, or accommodation provided free
of charge by employers.
I am a government servant living in official quarters. So, under the question 'Ownership Status
of this house', What should I select?

Select either 'Rented but has own house elsewhere' or 'Rented and doesn’t own any
house’, depending on your case.

Number of dwelling rooms

I share a room with another household. Should I count it as my dwelling room?

No. Only rooms exclusively used by your household should be counted.

I converted a store room into a study room. Should I count it?

Yes. It should be counted as a dwelling room.

Number of married couples living in this household

Will a couple in a live-in-relationship be considered a married couple?

If they consider their relationship as a stable union, they should be treated as a married
couple.

My spouse is away temporarily. Will be still be counted as a couple?

Yes, if your spouse is a normal resident of the household.

Main source of drinking water

If I keep tap water in bottles, can I consider it as bottled water?

No. It is still considered 'Tap Water'.

I use water supplied through a tanker. What should I select in the main source of drinking water?

Select ‘Other Sources.’

I store rainwater for drinking. What should I select in the main source of drinking water?

Select ‘Other Sources.’

How do I know if my tap water is from a treated source?

If it is supplied by government or local authority after treatment, select 'Tap water from
treated source'. If tap water is filtered at home, select 'Tap water from untreated source'.

I used packaged bottle water even though tap water is available. What option should I select?

Select 'Packaged/Bottled Water', as it is your main source of drinking water.

What comes under packaged/bottled water?

Water sold in bottles, jars, cans, or pouches meant for drinking.

Access to latrine & Type of latrine

I have a combined bathroom and latrine. Should I consider it to be a latrine or it to be bathroom?

Record Yes for both, as the facility exists 'within the premises'.
What is the difference between shared and public latrine?

• Shared latrine: Used by a few fixed households.

• Public latrine: Open to everyone, with or without payment.

My house has more than one latrine. Which should I record?

Record the type used by most family members.

What is a single pit latrine?

It is a simple pit where human waste collects and decomposes naturally in the ground.

What is a twin pit latrine?

It has two pits used alternately. When one pit fills, it is closed for a year to allow waste
to turn into compost.

What does “night soil removed by human or animal” mean?

It means waste is manually removed by a person or animal from the latrine.

What does “night soil disposed in open drain: mean?

It means waste flows directly from the latrine into open drains.

Waste water outlet connected to & Bathing facility available within the premises

What is meant by waste water in question on waste water outlet connected to?

It refers to water from kitchen, bathroom, or washing but not toilet waste.

If my house has one common closed drainage for latrine and bath water, what should I record?

Record 'Closed Drainage'.

My waste water goes to a soak pit outside. What should I record in question on waste water
outlet connected to?

If the pipe is connected to the soak pit, record Closed Drainage.

If water flows directly without a pipe, record No Drainage.

I reuse waste water for plants in my garden. What should I record in question on waste water
outlet connected to?

If drainage exists, record it. If there’s no drainage, record 'No Drainage'.

I have a bathroom but we bathe outside. Should I record "Yes"?

Yes, because the facility is available inside the premises.

Radio/Transistor, Television, Access to Internet, Laptop/Computer, Telephone and Mobile

phone/Smartphone

My mobile has FM radio. Should I count it as Radio Available?

Yes. Record 'On Mobile/Smartphone'.

We listen to music on "Carvaan." What type of Radio should I record?

Select 'any other device'.

My mobile works like a TV or computer. Should I record it as TV or computer?

No. Only record if you own an actual TV or computer.

We watch TV using a Fire Stick. Which option applies?

Record 'Any Other Device'.

I don't have a landline but have smartphones and basic phones. What should I record?

Record 'Mobile Phone/Smartphone'.

Bicycle and Scooter/Motorcycle/Moped & Car/Jeep/Van

I have three-wheeler auto-rickshaw, how do I record it under Two-wheeler and Four-Wheeler

Vehicle question?

Three wheelers like motorized cycle van, auto rickshaw, e-rickshaw tempo, etc. are not
recorded either as 'Two-Wheeler' and 'Four-Wheeler'.

I have a tractor; can I record it under Four-Wheeler Vehicle question (Car/Jeep/Van)?

Tractor is not recorded in Census. The question checks the availability of Car/Jeep/Van
types of Vehicles only.

I am a Divyang and use a tricycle. Where should I record it?

Record it under 'Bicycle'.

We share one car with another family. Who should record it?

The household that keeps and uses the car should record it.

I use my car for commercial purposes. Should I record it?

Yes. Even if used commercially, it has to be recorded as your household is in possession

of the car.

Main cereal consumed in the household

Our family eats more than one cereal (like rice and wheat). Which one should I record?

Record the cereal that is consumed most often or in the largest quantity by your
household.