Leh / Srinagar, May 17: A historic chapter in India’s developmental and growth story was scripted today as the Self-Enumeration process for Census 2027 commenced simultaneously across the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh with unprecedented public significance and administrative momentum.
The launch assumes extraordinary importance as Census 2027 will be the first Census to be conducted in the two Union Territories after their creation in 2019 and will also mark India’s first Census through fully digital means and in paperless manner.
The Self-Enumeration process was formally inaugurated in Jammu & Kashmir by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha, while the historic launch in Ladakh was led by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, on the very first day of commencement of the nationwide Self-Enumeration process i.e. 17th May 2026.
Further, the Chief Secretaries of the two Union Territories — Shri Atal Dulloo, IAS, Chief Secretary, Jammu & Kashmir and Shri Ashish Kundra, IAS, Chief Secretary, Ladakh — also completed their Self-Enumeration on the opening day itself, further reinforcing the importance of the exercise and encouraging citizens to actively participate in the national mission. The dignitaries completed their Self-Enumeration through the official portal www.se.census.gov.in, thereby setting an example for citizens and underlining the simplicity, transparency and citizen-friendly nature of the new digital Census framework.
The launch by the highest constitutional and administrative authorities of the two Union Territories is being viewed as a landmark confidence-building initiative aimed at generating large-scale public awareness and participation in Census 2027. *Shri Amit Sharma, IAS, Chief Principal Census Officer, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, played a proactive role in conceptualising and coordinating the high-visibility launch initiative by ensuring that the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governors and Chief Secretaries completed their Self-Enumeration on the very first day of its roll-out in both the UTs.
The initiative was aimed at creating a strong and far-reaching public message regarding the significance, transparency and national importance of Census 2027.* During the occasion, the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governors described Census 2027 as a transformational exercise that would play a defining role in future governance, infrastructure development, welfare planning and public service delivery.
They observed that accurate and reliable Census data would be of immense importance for planning and development, particularly in geographically diverse, border and remote regions of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The dignitaries also appealed to citizens, especially youth, students, educational institutions, government employees and community organisations, to actively participate in the Self-Enumeration process and extend assistance to others in using the digital platform so that maximum participation can be achieved.
Shri Amit Sharma briefed the dignitaries regarding the key features of the Self-Enumeration platform, including digital safeguards, ease of access, multilingual support, data confidentiality mechanisms and extensive preparedness undertaken across both Union Territories for smooth conduct of Census operations. He informed that the Self-Enumeration facility for citizens shall remain available from 17th May 2026 to 31st May 2026, while the House Listing Operations and Housing Census across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh shall be conducted from 1st June 2026 to 30th June 2026. CPCO Amit Sharma further stated that extensive preparations for Census 2027 are presently underway across both Union Territories, including geo-referenced digital mapping, formation of House Listing Blocks, deployment and training of thousands of field functionaries, multilingual awareness campaigns and special operational planning for remote, border, snow-bound and high-altitude areas.
Today’s launch is being widely regarded as a historic beginning to one of the most significant governance and citizen-participation exercises undertaken in the country, signalling the transition towards a modern, technology-driven and participatory Census 2027 exercise for achieving the target of Vikasit Bharat 2047.
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