The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RG&CCI) on August 14 notified 40 questions for Population Enumeration, the second phase of the Census 2027, which will begin in Ladakh and snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand from August 17 and continue till September 30, ahead of the rest of the country, where the exercise will be conducted in February 2027.

The Census 2027 questionnaire will include 13 new questions or data fields that were not part of the Census 2011 questionnaire, which had 29 questions.

The new questions seek information on the spouse’s name, nationality, father and mother’s particulars, digital literacy, permanent residential address, place of COVID-19 vaccination, number of bank accounts, passport, driving licence and mobile, Aadhaar and voter ID numbers, if available.

Amit Sharma, Chief Principal Census Officer and Director, Census Operations, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, speaks with Vijaita Singh about the Census 2027 exercise and its significance for the two Union Territories.

Other than caste enumeration, which was a political demand, the Population Census 2027 will also enumerate new data fields such as place of COVID-19 vaccination, identity documents and particulars of parents. What is the rationale behind the inclusion of such questions?

The questions are decided after several rounds of discussions with all Ministries. No private or confidential data is being sought by enumerators; these are all documents provided by the government. We are not seeking the bank account details, only the number of accounts an individual has. The identity documents such as Aadhaar, voter ID, driving license, and passport are all issued by the government, and respondents are to provide them, subject to availability. All data is confidential under the Census Act, 1948. It is better if respondents write down their details on paper before an enumerator comes to their homes. Since there are 40 questions, it may take more time.

How will self-enumeration work in J&K and Ladakh?

Self-enumeration in the entire Union Territory of Ladakh and in the snow-bound areas of 16 districts of J&K will begin on Monday (August 17) on the portal—www.se/snowbound.census.gov.in—before door-to-door enumeration begins on September 1. We would encourage people to self-enumerate. Beware of cyber fraud; fraudsters may seek information in the name of the Census. Our enumerators have QR-code-enabled ID cards; their credentials can be checked.

The self-enumeration option will be georeferenced and available only in the snow-bound areas. So, even if a resident of a snow-bound area of a district in J&K, say Gurez, who is presently in the plains, will not be able to access the portal.

Under the extended de facto pattern, everyone present at a location will be counted. Population enumeration has data analytics on migration, which is included under demographic details. More than 6.67 lakh households in J&K and 7,009 households in Ladakh voluntarily completed self-enumeration before the House Listing Operations (HLO), the first phase, in June.

Why is Census 2027 significant for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh?

It will provide the first comprehensive demographic picture of Jammu & Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and the first Census of Ladakh as a Union Territory. Beyond updating population figures after more than a decade, it will generate data on population distribution, migration, age structure, housing, education, employment, fertility, disability and social composition to support future planning and resource allocation.

What groundwork has been completed?

During the House Listing Operations (HLO) in June 2026, Jammu & Kashmir covered 24,071 digitally mapped House Listing Blocks across 295 Census Charges, while Ladakh covered 567 Blocks across 17 Charges. This digital exercise created the framework for Population Enumeration.

Why is geography a key focus?

Demographic realities vary sharply across urban centres, border districts, remote mountain villages and tribal areas. Census 2027 aims to capture not just population numbers, but where people live, how they live, how they move and how those patterns are changing.

What are the main enumeration challenges in J&K and Ladakh?

Jammu & Kashmir’s population is spread across cities, villages, mountainous regions, border areas and tribal habitations. Seasonal migration further complicates enumeration.

Ladakh’s population lives across a vast high-altitude region marked by dispersed settlements, difficult connectivity, seasonal accessibility and remote border locations. The Census must accurately capture where people live and how population distribution varies across the terrain.

Snow-bound areas of J&K and Ladakh will be enumerated in September 2026, with October 1, 2026 as the reference date, instead of March 1, 2027.

How will nomadic communities and displaced populations will be counted?

Special coordination with departments dealing with forests, tribal affairs and local administration will help identify migratory routes and seasonal settlements of Gujjar-Bakarwals and other nomadic groups in J&K. The objective is to ensure that mobility does not lead to undercounting. Communities such as Kashmiri Pandits will be recorded according to established Census concepts and reference dates, while appropriately capturing migration, residence and household characteristics.

What other information will be collected?

Data will be gathered on age, sex, religion, caste, disability, language, literacy, education, economic activity, migration and fertility. Caste enumeration in the second phase will add an important dimension to understanding social composition and development disparities.

How can the data help policymakers?

Age data can guide education and employment planning; migration data can reveal labour trends; education and economic activity data can identify gaps between skills and jobs; fertility and disability data can support health and welfare planning; and housing data can highlight infrastructure deficits.

How are enumerators being trained?

A cascading training model has been adopted, from subject matter experts and national trainers to enumerators and supervisors, ensuring consistent understanding of Census concepts and digital data collection.

How is confidentiality protected?

Census information is collected under the Census Act, 1948, and individual data is protected under Section 15, which guarantees confidentiality. This is India’s first fully digital Census, using mobile applications, geospatial tools, digital monitoring and self-enumeration. More than 6.67 lakh households in J&K and 7,009 households in Ladakh completed self-enumeration before the HLO phase. Public outreach has also included partnerships such as the Directorate’s collaboration with J&K Bank.

What happens after enumeration?

The real value of the Census lies in analysing and using the data through Census tables, District Census Handbooks and other statistical products. These can help answer key questions about population growth, ageing, migration, employment, service gaps and infrastructure needs.

Three crucial factors are complete coverage, accurate information and meaningful use of the data. For Jammu & Kashmir, the Census will help understand demographic changes driven by urbanisation, migration and administrative reorganisation. For Ladakh, it will provide the first comprehensive demographic benchmark. Ultimately, the Census cannot make policy, but it can ensure policies are based on reliable facts.

Published - August 16, 2026 10:42 pm IST