Part of: Uttarakhand Current Affairs · See also: Uttarakhand GK · UKPSC syllabus
On 2 November 2026, the Directorate of Census Operations, Uttarakhand, confirmed that the Uttarakhand census schedule remains unchanged. Director Iva Ashish Srivastava said population enumeration will run from 1 December 2026 to 4 January 2027. Before that, citizens can self-enumerate online from 16 to 30 November 2026. Meanwhile, she rejected reports that the census in the state would be postponed. So, the clarification removes confusion ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls.
Why the Directorate Issued the Clarification
On 30 October 2026, the Registrar General of India notified dates for most of the country. That notification fixed enumeration from 25 January to 28 February 2027. However, it excluded Uttarakhand, Goa, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. As a result, many people assumed Uttarakhand’s dates had changed too. In response, the directorate said there was no change or postponement. It also asked people to ignore misleading posts and rely only on official channels.
An Earlier Gazette Fixed These Dates
In fact, a gazette notification of 5 September 2026 advanced this count. It covered Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and non-snow-bound Uttarakhand. Notably, the terms of these Assemblies end in early 2027.
Snow-Bound Areas Already Counted
Earlier, enumerators counted snow-bound areas in September 2026, with 1 October 2026 as their reference date. Also, this covered Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh districts. According to Srivastava, the count recorded about 50,000 residents there. Therefore, the December round covers the rest of the state.
About Census 2027
Census 2027 is India’s 16th census and its first fully digital one. First, the house-listing phase ran in Uttarakhand in April–May 2026. Now, the population enumeration phase collects data on age, education, migration and disability. Moreover, it records caste for all communities for the first time since independence. The Census Act, 1948, gives the exercise its legal basis.
Uttarakhand Census Schedule: Key Facts for Revision
- Self-enumeration: 16–30 November 2026 (online)
- House-to-house enumeration: 1 December 2026 to 4 January 2027
- Revisional round: 5–9 January 2027
- Reference date: 00:00 hours, 5 January 2027
- Snow-bound areas: Counted in September 2026; reference date 1 October 2026
- Rest of India: Enumeration 25 January to 28 February 2027; reference date 1 March 2027
Why the Uttarakhand Census Schedule Matters for UKPSC
Notably, Uttarakhand follows a separate timeline from most states. So, remember the 16 November self-enumeration start, the 1 December field start and the 5 January 2027 reference date. Also, link this with the September count in snow-bound villages. For official updates, also visit Census of India. Next, for a related story, read about the two phases of Census 2027. You can also download our free Uttarakhand Current Affairs magazine.
So, are you preparing for the UKPSC Upper PCS 2026 prelims? Then join our UKPSC 2026 Prelims Test Series for regular practice.