Census to begin in 4 poll-bound states:People in UP, Uttarakhand, Goa and Punjab can self-register until 30 November

Under Census 2027, population counting in Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand will be carried out from December 1, 2026, to January 4, 2027, except in their snow-bound areas. The Registrar General of India shared this information on Saturday. People in these states will be able to enter their details themselves from November 16 to November 30, 2026. This process is called self-enumeration. After the census process, a correction phase will be carried out from January 5 to January 9, 2027. Assembly elections are due to be held in these states at the beginning of next year. The census was originally scheduled for 2021 but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Census dates for the rest of the country According to a government statement issued on June 25, the reference date for the census in the rest of the country will be March 1, 2027. This excludes the snow-bound and non-synchronised areas of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the snow-bound areas of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The terms of the legislative assemblies in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand will end by May 2027. The country’s first digital census Census 2027 will be the country’s first digital census. Data will be recorded digitally, while people will also have the option to provide their details themselves through self-enumeration. According to the Centre, all personal information provided by people will be kept completely confidential. Under Section 15 of the Census Act, it cannot be made public, shared under the Right to Information (RTI) Act or used as evidence in any court. ₹11,718 crore budget approved for the census The Centre has approved a budget of ₹11,718.24 crore for Census 2027. The census will be conducted across the country with coordination from the Centre. State and Union Territory governments will assist with its implementation. ​