Jammu and Kashmir Preparing for 2027 Census: Key Details
Preparations for the 2027 Census in Jammu and Kashmir are accelerating. The Census Coordination Committee at the union territory level is expected to soon finalize a 30-day window for the House Listing Operation, which may take place between April 1, 2026, and September 30, 2026.
Amit Sharma, Director of Census Operations and Director of Civil Registration for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, informed that a decision regarding the timeframe for the House Listing Operation in Jammu and Kashmir will be made soon. The Census Coordination Committee is expected to decide on any 30-day period between April 1 and September 30, 2026, for this operation.
In Ladakh, the House Listing Operation is planned from June 1 to June 30, 2026. The Census Coordination Committee at the UT level is chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo. In the upcoming meeting, the 30-day timeframe for the House Listing Operation will likely be finalized.
Phases of the Census
Amit Sharma also highlighted that the House Listing Operation is Phase 1 of the Census process. Afterward, Phase 2 will involve the population enumeration. The population enumeration in snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled for September 2026, while in the plains, it will be completed by February 2027. Similarly, in Ladakh, the population enumeration will take place in September 2026, considering it as a snow-bound area.
Significance of the 2027 Census
The 2027 Census for Jammu and Kashmir is crucial for two main reasons. Firstly, it will provide an accurate count of the population of reserved categories. Secondly, it will serve as the basis for future delimitation of assembly and Lok Sabha seats in the region.
New Categories in the Census
For the first time, the Paddri, Gadda Brahmin, and Koli tribes will be recognized as separate entities in the Census. These tribes were included in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list of Jammu and Kashmir in 2024.
Additionally, this Census will also include data on Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Jammu and Kashmir has 20 OBC communities in the Central List and 41 OBC communities in the UT List. The OBCs in the region benefit from 8% reservation in government jobs.
Impact on Delimitation
Most importantly, the data from the 2027 Census will be used as the basis for future delimitation of constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, the delimitation of assembly and Lok Sabha seats cannot occur until the data from the first Census after 2026 is published.
It is noteworthy that the last delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir was completed on May 5, 2022.