New Delhi, Mar 5: The snowbound areas of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh will begin the Population Enumeration phase of Census 2027 in September 2026, nearly five months ahead of the rest of the country, official sources said on Thursday.
Sources told Kashmir Convener, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched four digital platforms for the upcoming census exercise and unveiled its official mascots — “Pragati” and “Vikas”.
For the first time, the government has introduced a self-enumeration facility that will allow residents to submit their details online before the door-to-door visit by enumerators.
Officials said the decision to advance the Population Enumeration phase for Ladakh and the snowbound “non-synchronous” areas of Jammu and Kashmir was taken in view of harsh winter conditions that render several areas inaccessible.
The reference date for these regions has been fixed as October 1, 2026, instead of the national reference date of March 1, 2027. The rest of the country will undergo the Population Enumeration phase in February 2027.
According to sources, the Houselisting Block Creator (HLBC), a web-based map application, will enable charge officers to digitally create enumeration blocks using satellite imagery. Enumerators will use the HLO Mobile Application, which allows offline data collection and direct upload, replacing traditional paper schedules. The application supports 16 regional languages and is compatible with Android and iOS devices.
The newly introduced Self-Enumeration (SE) Portal will allow households to submit their details online. A unique ID will be generated upon submission for verification during the field visit.
Officials said the Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS) Portal will enable officers at sub-district, district and state levels to monitor progress in real time.
The census in Jammu and Kashmir will be conducted in two phases. The Houselisting and Housing Census phase, notified on January 7, 2026, will be carried out between April 1 and September 30, 2026, with a 15-day self-enumeration window preceding the field exercise.
The Population Enumeration phase will be conducted in September 2026 for Ladakh and snowbound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, while the rest of the country will be covered in February 2027. Officials said caste-related questions will be included in this phase.
Over 30 lakh enumerators, supervisors and officials are expected to be deployed across the country for the exercise, sources added.
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