JNM journalist Hardeep Jamwal, Jammu
Jammu and Kashmir will conduct its first fully digital census in 2027, a crucial step for the state’s administrative and development infrastructure. Over 30,000 enumerators and supervisors will participate in this census process, collecting data in villages and cities across the Union Territory in two phases.
This census will cover 6,462 villages and 78 cities/towns. Enumerators will go door-to-door to count people and collect information on their social, economic, and cultural backgrounds. Significantly, this time the entire process will be conducted digitally, for which a dedicated mobile application has been developed.
This application will also work offline, ensuring data collection is seamless even in remote areas where internet access is limited or unavailable. Internet access will be used only for registration and data uploading.
The census process will be completed in two phases. The first phase will include counting houses and assessing their condition, which will begin on May 17, 2026. The second phase will then include a population count, which will collect information on people’s education, language, employment, economic activities, and other important information.
Considering geographical conditions, the census will begin in September 2026 in snow-covered areas, while in the plains, the process will begin in February 2027.
Enumerators and supervisors involved in this work will be paid up to 25,000 rupees. They will also receive specialized training to ensure they understand and operate properly with digital tools and procedures.
The administration states that the census is not limited to a population count; it also forms the basis for development plans, resource distribution, and government policies in the coming years. Therefore, special attention is being paid to the accuracy and reliability of the data collected in this process.
This will be Jammu and Kashmir’s first census since becoming a Union Territory in 2019, making it considered historic and extremely important. The administration has appealed to all departments and the general public to cooperate in the process so that the census can be completed on time and successfully.
