Dehradun: Uttarakhand is gearing up for the first phase of the upcoming Census of India 2027, with house listing and housing census operations set to begin on April 25, 2026, and continue until May 24, 2026. The state government has issued the official notification for this phase, emphasizing complete confidentiality of the collected data. All information gathered during the census will remain strictly confidential and cannot be accessed through the Right to Information (RTI) Act or used as evidence in police or court proceedings.
A key highlight is that the entire census process in Uttarakhand will be conducted digitally for the first time, with special focus on robust security measures, including end-to-end encryption to safeguard personal data. This digital approach, which has been in planning since discussions around the originally scheduled 2021 census (postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic), aims to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and protection against misuse.
Eva Ashish Srivastava, Director of Census Operations in Uttarakhand, clarified that under the Census Act, 1948, any data collected during the exercise is protected by law. “The information gathered cannot be disclosed to police or courts as evidence, nor can it be obtained via RTI,” she stated. Enumerators (census workers) are legally barred from revealing any individual details. When the final census report is released, data will only be shared at an aggregated level—such as the total population in a ward, number of children, age groups, school attendance statistics, etc.—without identifying specific individuals, parents, or households.
This confidentiality assurance comes amid public concerns, particularly regarding potential caste enumeration (expected in the second phase of population enumeration). The first phase focuses on house listing, mapping structures, and basic housing details. Self-enumeration facilities will be available from April 9 to April 24, 2026, allowing residents to submit information online 15 days before the official house-to-house operations begin.
The Census of India 2027 will be conducted in two phases nationwide. The first phase (Houselisting and Housing Census) is scheduled between April 1 and September 30, 2026, across states and Union Territories, with each region selecting a 30-day window based on local convenience. Due to Uttarakhand’s hilly and snow-bound terrain, the state has opted for an early slot from April 25 to May 24, 2026, to avoid monsoon disruptions. The second phase (Population Enumeration) is planned for February 2027 in most areas, with a reference date of March 1, 2027, though snow-bound regions in states like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh will have an adjusted timeline in September-October 2026.
Preparations in Uttarakhand are in full swing under the Census Directorate, with training for enumerators and digital tools being finalized. The exercise will cover administrative boundaries, which are now “sealed” as per statutory provisions—no changes to districts, tehsils, or wards can be made until the census concludes.
The delayed census (originally due in 2021) has been a long wait, but officials stress that the digital format and strong privacy safeguards will make this the most secure and transparent count yet. Residents are encouraged to cooperate fully, as accurate data will shape future policy, resource allocation, and development planning in the state.
