Census 2027: 40-question form rolled out for J&K, Ladakh as phase two begins

What Happened

The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RG&C CCI) notified a 40-question Population Enumeration for Census 2027. The second phase of the census will commence in Ladakh and snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand from August 17 and run through September 30, 2026. The remaining parts of the country will conduct enumeration in February 2027. The 40-question questionnaire includes 13 new data fields not present in the 2011 census, such as spouse’s name, nationality, details of parents, and various identity and address-related items, provided if available. Enumerators will use government-issued documents, and data collection is described as confidential under the Census Act, 1948. Self-enumeration will be available on a georeferenced portal for snow-bound areas before door-to-door enumeration begins on September 1. Data collection has a broader aim of capturing demographics, housing, education, employment, migration, and related indicators to inform planning and resource allocation.

Why It Matters

The census aims to deliver a comprehensive demographic profile for Jammu & Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and to mark the first census of Ladakh as a Union Territory. The exercise will illuminate population distribution, migration, age structure, housing, education, employment, fertility, disability, and social composition to support future planning. Officials emphasised that privacy protections are in place and that enumerators will carry QR-code-enabled IDs for credential verification, with safeguards against cyber fraud.

Background

House Listing Operations completed in June 2026 set the groundwork for Population Enumeration. Jammu & Kashmir covered 24,071 digitally mapped House Listing Blocks across 295 Census Charges, while Ladakh covered 567 Blocks across 17 Charges. Prior to the second phase, more than 6.67 lakh households in J&K and 7,009 households in Ladakh had voluntarily completed self-enumeration during the first phase in June. The new questions follow discussions with multiple ministries and are designed to collect government-issued identity details only when available.

Key Facts

• Phase two of Census 2027 starts August 17 and ends September 30 in Ladakh and snow-bound areas of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
• The entire Census 2027 questionnaire comprises 40 questions; 13 are new compared with Census 2011.
• New data fields include spouse’s name, nationality, and details about parents, plus information on digital literacy and specific government-issued identity documents.
• Self-enumeration is available on a georeferenced portal for snow-bound areas before door-to-door enumeration on September 1.
• Data collection is described as confidential under the Census Act, 1948; government-issued documents may be provided “if available.”
• House Listing Operations in June 2026 mapped thousands of blocks: 24,071 blocks across 295 charges in J&K and 567 blocks across 17 charges in Ladakh.
• Over 6.67 lakh households in J&K and 7,009 households in Ladakh completed self-enumeration prior to the first phase.
• The census will yield information on population distribution, migration, age structure, housing, education, employment, fertility, disability, and social composition.

What Happens Next

Door-to-door enumeration is scheduled to begin on September 1 after the self-enumeration window. The exercise will continue into the rest of the country with its February 2027 timeline, as announced. Enumerators will use government-issued identity documents when available and will continue to emphasize data confidentiality under relevant laws.