Uttarakhand – Following the issuance of the national census notification, preparations have intensified in Uttarakhand. While the main population census across the country is scheduled between 9 and 28 February next year, enumeration in 131 remote villages and three high-altitude towns of the state will be conducted in September this year due to geographical constraints.
According to officials, the census will be conducted in two phases — the first phase will involve house listing, followed by the population enumeration phase. The State Level Empowered Committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary, has proposed conducting the house listing exercise in Uttarakhand between 25 April and 24 May, pending approval from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
District administrations in Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh, Chamoli and Uttarkashi have identified snow-bound regions where access becomes difficult during winter. As a result, census operations in 131 villages and the towns of Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri will be carried out in September 2026.
The state has been divided into approximately 30,000 enumeration blocks. Each block will have one enumerator, and one supervisor will oversee every six enumerators.
Administrative Impact –
With the census notification already issued, administrative boundaries in the state have been frozen. Villages, wards, towns and districts will retain their existing limits as of 31 December 2025, and this arrangement will remain in force until March 2027. The Centre has also requested that no transfers of officials involved in census work be carried out during the exercise.
What’s New in Census 2026–27?
This will be the first fully digital census in the country. Training will be conducted in batches through the CMMS portal, and progress reports will be monitored live. The exercise will be paperless, with enumerators using a dedicated mobile application instead of physical forms.
A major new feature is the provision for self-enumeration. Citizens will be able to register on a dedicated portal using their mobile number and fill in census details themselves. Upon submission, they will receive a unique ID. When the enumerator visits the household, this ID must be shared for on-the-spot verification of the submitted information. If self-enumeration has not been done, the enumerator will complete the process using the official app.
Reaching Remote and ‘Ghost’ Villages
Enumerators will primarily be local teachers who will undergo three days of training. Officials indicated that helicopter assistance is unlikely but may be considered depending on circumstances at the state government level.
As per the 2011 Census, Uttarakhand had 16,793 revenue villages, of which 1,048 were uninhabited. During the February 2027 population enumeration phase, teams will visit every listed village. Even if no residents are found, uninhabited villages will still be officially recorded.
The upcoming census marks a significant administrative and technological shift for Uttarakhand, especially in addressing the logistical challenges posed by its mountainous terrain.
