The Registrar General of India (RGI) has officially advanced the population enumeration phase for Census 2027 in Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and non-snow-bound areas of Uttarakhand. The exercise will run from December 1, 2026, to January 4, 2027, followed by a revisional round from January 5 to January 9, 2027.

The schedule adjustment avoids overlaps with assembly elections expected in early 2027 across these states, as government personnel—primarily schoolteachers—are deployed for both operations. Meanwhile, house-listing operations for Manipur have been deferred.

Revised Census Timeline & Schedules

Region / StateSelf-Enumeration WindowPopulation Enumeration PeriodReference Date

Poll-Bound States

 

(Goa, UP, Punjab, Uttarakhand)

Nov 16 – Nov 30, 2026

Dec 1, 2026 – Jan 4, 2027

 

(Revisional: Jan 5–9, 2027)

March 1, 2027

Snow-Bound Areas

 

(Ladakh, J&K, HP, Uttarakhand)

Aug 17 – Aug 31, 2026Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2026Oct 1, 2026 (00:00 hrs)
Rest of IndiaTo be announcedFebruary 2027 (Expected)March 1, 2027 (00:00 hrs)

Key Operational Details

  • Self-Enumeration Option: Residents in the four poll-bound regions can choose to submit their census data online during the late-November window before physical enumerators visit.

  • National Scope: This marks the eighth census conducted since Indian independence. Delayed from its original 2021 schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Union Cabinet approved Rs 11,718 crore for the two-phase project (housing listing followed by population enumeration).

  • Data Collected: Enumerators will collect information on demography, socio-cultural factors, economic status, migration history, and fertility characteristics across every household. (PTI)