The Ministry of Home Affairs has officially notified the specific set of questions that census officers are authorized to ask citizens during the upcoming House Listing and Housing Census. According to the gazette notification issued by the Census Commissioner, officers can collect information on exactly 33 designated items. They do not have the authority to demand or record any additional personal details outside this official list, ensuring a structured and transparent data collection process.

The authorized questionnaire covers structural details of the building, such as the building number, construction materials used for the floor, wall, and roof, and the overall condition and usage of the house. It also gathers essential household data, including the total number of residents, the name and gender of the head of the household, ownership status, the number of dwelling rooms, and whether the household belongs to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes.

Additionally, citizens will be asked about basic amenities and assets, such as drinking water sources, lighting, latrine types, kitchen facilities, cooking fuels, and the main cereal consumed. Information regarding ownership of communication devices and vehicles—including radios, televisions, internet access, computers, mobile phones, bicycles, and cars—will also be recorded, alongside a mobile number solely for census-related communications.

All collected information will be entered directly into a dedicated census application by the officers. Once the data is submitted, it is securely locked to prevent tampering. The government assures strict confidentiality of this data, highlighting that the collected information is heavily protected under data protection regulations to prevent unauthorized leaks and safeguard citizen privacy.