LG Completes Self-Enumeration, Calls on Citizens to Participate in Digital Census 2027 Exercise
Srinagar, May 17: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday completed his self-enumeration process, formally marking the commencement of the House Listing and Housing Census (HLO) operations across the Union Territory for Census 2027.
The Lieutenant Governor described Census 2027 as a landmark national exercise, noting that it would be India’s first fully digital and paperless Census driven by advanced technologies, mobile-based data collection systems and self-enumeration mechanisms. He urged citizens across Jammu and Kashmir to actively participate in the process and fulfil their civic responsibility by digitally submitting household information within the notified timeline.
He said the transition to a technology-enabled Census framework would ensure enhanced efficiency, transparency, accuracy and real-time monitoring of operations, while enabling seamless and secure data management.
Highlighting the significance of the Census for Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor said the exercise assumes added importance in view of rapid urban expansion, changing migration patterns, extension of municipal jurisdictions and evolving developmental priorities. He observed that the Census would generate reliable and granular data crucial for evidence-based governance, targeted welfare initiatives and long-term developmental planning.
Officials said the self-enumeration phase, scheduled from May 17 to May 31, 2026, will gather information related to housing conditions, household assets, sanitation facilities, drinking water access, type of construction, communication and transport facilities, and the availability of electricity and internet services.
The second phase, Population Enumeration, will be conducted in February 2027 in normal areas, while snow-bound and non-synchronous regions of Jammu and Kashmir will undergo the exercise earlier under separate operational arrangements and notified timelines. The phase will collect demographic and socio-economic details including age, gender, literacy, occupation, migration, marital status, disability, fertility and other key indicators.
The administration has already initiated extensive preparatory measures in coordination with the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. More than 27,000 field functionaries, including Enumerators and Supervisors, are being deployed across the Union Territory through the Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS), with QR-coded appointment letters and identity cards being generated digitally.
Authorities have also established a multi-tier training framework for Census personnel, covering Census concepts, field protocols, digital data capture systems, mobile-based applications, household engagement procedures and data confidentiality norms.
Special operational planning is being undertaken for remote, hilly and snow-bound regions to ensure timely completion of the Census process despite geographical and climatic challenges.
Officials further stated that a robust digital security architecture, including end-to-end encryption, secure transmission protocols, protected storage systems and role-based access controls, has been put in place to safeguard the confidentiality and integrity of Census data at every stage.
Describing self-enumeration as one of the most citizen-centric innovations of Census 2027, the administration said households would be able to directly submit Census details through a secure online portal during the notified period, thereby strengthening public participation in the national exercise.
