Join Census 2027 for nation building; CPCO Amit Sharma urges people of Ladakh & JK
LEH August 16, 2026:
Amit Sharma, Chief Principal Census Officer (CPCO) and Director Census Operations (DCO), Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh UTs, on Sunday, said that the Directorate has completed key preparations for Population Enumeration (Phase-II) of Census 2027 in the Union Territory of Ladakh and the notified snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir.
He stated that while the entire Union Territory of Ladakh will be enumerated during September 2026, Population Enumeration in the snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir will also be undertaken during the same period. The exercise assumes particular significance as Ladakh will be the first Union Territory to be completely enumerated during the second phase, providing the first comprehensive Census-based demographic picture of Ladakh in its present administrative configuration, with 00:00 hours of October 1, 2026 as the reference date for population data.
At the outset, CPCO Shri Amit Sharma mentioned that yesterday only, on the 15th August, the auspicious occasion of 80th Independence Day, the Hon’ble Prime Minister, while addressing the citizens from the rampart of Red Fort, Delhi, specially appealed to the public of the nation to participate in self-enumeration for upcoming Population Enumeration phase of Census 2027 in a big way by sharing accurate data which shall indeed lay a strong foundation towards making India, a developed nation by 2047.
CPCO Amit Sharma shared that, as the entire Union Territory of Ladakh is snow-bound during the winter months, so Ladakh will emerge as the first one amongst all states/UTs in the nation to complete Census 2027 exercise by the end of September itself.
Emphasising the digital nature of Census 2027, CPCO Shri Amit Sharma said that the Census is being conducted through a digital mode, marking a significant transformation in the conduct of the decennial Census. He further informed that Self-Enumeration (SE) for Phase-II will be available from 17 August to 31 August 2026, which shall be limited to the geo-fenced snow-bound areas only and it shall be available on the weblink “se-snowbound.census.gov.in” for the public residing in these areas.
As disclosed by CPCO Amit Sharma regarding the preparations in this Press Meet, an estimated 637 Enumeration Blocks (EBs) will be created for complete coverage of Ladakh during September 2026. The exercise will be preceded by Self-Enumeration from August 17 to 31, 2026, followed by field Population Enumeration from September 1 to 30, 2026. The field exercise will build upon the digital framework created during Phase-I, when 579 House Listing Blocks across 17 Charges were covered in Ladakh through digital means.
He shared that in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, the second phase will cover the snow-bound areas spread across 16 districts and 95 Charges, for which an estimated 4,146 Enumeration Blocks are being formed. The districts covered are Poonch, Kathua, Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar, Udhampur, Reasi, Kupwara, Budgam, Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Kulgam. These Enumeration Blocks will build upon the 3,769 House Listing Blocks covered across these 95 Charges during Phase-I, providing the operational framework for the forthcoming individual-level enumeration.
CPCO Shri Amit Sharma said that the decision to undertake Population Enumeration in these areas during September 2026 has been guided by the geographical and climatic conditions of the region. The timing has been planned to ensure that snow-bound and difficult-to-access areas can be reached effectively before the onset of harsher winter conditions. In Ladakh, where settlements are widely dispersed and terrain presents unique operational challenges, special attention is being given to Enumeration Block demarcation, field logistics and deployment of trained personnel so that geographical difficulty does not become a barrier to complete and accurate enumeration.
CPCO Amit Sharm expressed confidence on the preparations for Ladakh and the snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir also include arrangements for special charges, including establishments of military and paramilitary forces. Coordination is being undertaken with the concerned authorities to ensure that all eligible population groups and establishments falling within the Census framework are appropriately covered. This forms part of the Directorate’s broader objective of ensuring that difficult geography, institutional location or mobility does not result in any eligible population being left outside the Census coverage.
Sharma told that second phase follows the successful completion of the House Listing Operations from June 1 to June 30, 2026, across both Union Territories. The first phase achieved 100 per cent digital data collection without major technical difficulties. In Jammu & Kashmir, 24,071 House Listing Blocks were created across 295 Charges, while Ladakh covered 579 House Listing Blocks across 17 Charges. More than 27,000 Census kits were dispatched to Charges in Jammu & Kashmir, while more than 800 kits were distributed in Ladakh, with additional stock maintained as reserve.
CPCO Shri Amit Sharma stated that Population Enumeration will generate detailed information relating to population distribution, household characteristics, demographic composition, education, economic activity, migration, disability, language, fertility and other population characteristics. For Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, such information will be particularly valuable in understanding demographic patterns across remote, rural, urban, border, tribal and high-altitude areas and in strengthening the evidence base for future planning and policy formulation.
Emphasising the importance of public cooperation, Shri Amit Sharma urged all residents of Ladakh and the snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir to actively participate in the forthcoming Population Enumeration and provide complete and accurate information to Census Enumerators and Supervisors. He stressed that the success of the second phase will depend on close coordination between the administration, Census functionaries and residents, particularly in areas where terrain and weather make field operations more challenging.
Before concluding, Sharma expressed confidence that the extensive preparations, structured training, digital systems and field-level coordination put in place by the Directorate would ensure the complete, accurate and timely conduct of Population Enumeration in Ladakh and the snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir, marking another significant milestone in the implementation of Census 2027 through digital means.
He appealed to all residents of Ladakh UT and residents of snow-bound areas falling in sixteen districts of J&K UT to actively participate in the Self-Enumeration process and contribute to this important nation-building exercise. He urged public to make use of the digital Self-Enumeration facility residing in these areas and ensure that their information is accurately recorded.