Date: 2026-08-03Category: Extra OrdinaryState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Publication of Gazette Notification for Period of Population Enumeration in UT of Ladakh and snow bound non synchronous areas of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and snow bound non synchronous areas of the States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand of Census of India 2027
**Executive Summary**
This notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs outlines the schedule for the 2026 population census in the Union Territory of Ladakh and snow-bound non-synchronous areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The census enumeration is scheduled for September 2026, with a specific window for self-enumeration in August 2026. Key deadlines include a revisional round ending on October 5, 2026, with the official census reference date set for October 1, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Census Schedule and Scope**
* **Target Regions:** The census covers the Union Territory of Ladakh and designated snow-bound non-synchronous areas within Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
* **Enumeration Period:** Population enumeration will be conducted from September 1, 2026, to September 30, 2026.
* **Revisional Round:** A follow-up revisional round will take place from October 1, 2026, to October 5, 2026.
**Self-Enumeration and Reference Date**
* **Self-Enumeration Option:** Residents have the option to complete self-enumeration from August 17, 2026, to August 31, 2026, prior to the start of house-to-house visits.
* **Reference Date:** The official reference point for the census data is 00:00 hours on the first day of October 2026.
**Administrative Details**
* **Legal Authority:** The declaration is made under Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948, and the Census Rules, 1990.
* **Information Access:** Specific details regarding the covered snowbound areas are hosted on the official census website (https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/CGAZ).
**Impact Analysis**
**Residents of Ladakh and designated snow-bound areas of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand**
**Impact**
Residents in these specific geographic zones are required to be enumerated for the national population census according to a timeline adjusted for their region's climate and synchronicity.
**Action Required**
Eligible individuals may opt for self-enumeration between August 17 and August 31, 2026, or must participate in the house-to-house enumeration process conducted throughout September 2026.
**Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India**
**Impact**
The office is legally mandated to execute the census operations, including the house-to-house enumeration and the subsequent revisional round, within the prescribed deadlines.
**Action Required**
The department must ensure all logistical arrangements are in place for the September enumeration and maintain the digital infrastructure required for the self-enumeration period in August.
Key Entities Referenced
Census Act, 1948: The primary legislation under which the Central Government authorizes the conduct of the population census and exercises its powers.
Office of Registrar General, India: The primary regulatory authority under the Ministry of Home Affairs responsible for the execution and management of the census.
Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand: The specific Union Territories and States where the population census for snow-bound non-synchronous areas is being scheduled.
Census Rules, 1990: The statutory rules cited alongside the Census Act to define the specific legal and procedural framework for conducting the census.
Mritunjay Kumar Narayan: The Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner who issued the notification for population enumeration.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-03082026-275116
xxxGIDHxxx
CG-DLxx-ExG-I0D3E0x8x2x0 26-275116
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 4125] नई दिल्ली, सोमवार, अगस्ट्त 03, 2026/श्रावण 12, 1948 25/आषाढ़ 3, 1947
No. 4125] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, AUGUST 03, 2026/SHRAVAN 12, 1948 SHADHA 3, 1947
गहृ मत्रं ालय
(भारत के महारजिस्ट्र ार का कायाला य)
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 3 अगस्ट् त, 2026
का.आ. 4301(अ).—केंद्रीय सरकार, िनगणना जनयम, 1990 के जनयम 6(क) और 6(घ) के साथ पठित
िनगणना अजधजनयम, 1948 (1948 का 37) की धारा 3 द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, यह घोषणा
करती ह ैदक:
(i) िनसंख्या की िनगणना संघ राज्यक्षेत्र लद्दाख और सघं राज्यक्षेत्र िम्मू-कश्मीर के जहमाच्छादित
असमकाजलक क्षेत्रों और जहमाचल प्रििे तथा उत्तराखंड राज्यों के जहमाच्छादित असमकाजलक क्षेत्रों में 1 जसतंबर, 2026 स े
30 जसतंबर, 2026 तक दकया िाएगा, साथ ही इसका पुनरीक्षण िौर 1 अक्टूबर, 2026 स े 5 अक्टूबर, 2026 तक दकया
िाएगा;
(ii) उपयिुा िनगणना के सचं ालन के जलए, घर-घर िाकर िनसंख्या गणना प्रारंभ होने से िीक पहले, 17
अगस्ट्त 2026 से 31 अगस्ट्त 2026 तक स्ट्व-गणना का जवकल्प उपलब्ध रहगे ा;
5969 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
(iii) संघ राज्यक्षेत्र लद्दाख और सघं राज्यक्षेत्र िम्मू-कश्मीर के जहमाच्छादित असमकाजलक क्षेत्रों और जहमाचल
प्रिेि और उत्तराखंड राज्यों के जहमाच्छादित असमकाजलक क्षत्रे ों के जलए िनगणना के जलए संिभा तारीख अक्टूबर, 2026
के पहल े दिन को 00.00 बिे होगी; और
(iv) संघ राज्यक्षेत्र िम्मू-कश्मीर के जहमाच्छादित असमकाजलक क्षेत्रों के साथ-साथ जहमाचल प्रिेि और
उत्तराखंड राज्यों के जहमाच्छादित असमकाजलक क्षेत्रों का ब्यौरा https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/CGAZ
वेबसाइट पर िाकर प्राप्त दकया िा सकता ह।ै
[फा. स.ं 9/8/2025-सीडी (सीइएन)] ]
मृतयुंिय कुमार नारायण, भारत के महारजिस्ट्रार एवं िनगणना आयुि
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(Office of Registrar General, India)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 3rd August, 2026
S.O. 4301(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Census Act, 1948 (37 of 1948) read
with rule 6A and 6D of the Census Rules, 1990, the Central Government hereby declares that-
(i) The conduct of Census of the population shall be undertaken in the Union territory of Ladakh and the
snow bound non-synchronous areas of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the snow-bound non-
synchronous areas of the States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, from 1st September, 2026 to 30th September,
2026 with a revisional round from 1st October, 2026 to 5th October, 2026;
(ii) For the conduct of the above Census, there shall be an option for self- enumeration from 17th August,
2026 to 31st August, 2026 just before the start of house to house population enumeration;
(iii) The reference date for the Census in the Union territory of Ladakh and snow bound non-synchronous
areas of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the snow-bound non-synchronous areas of the States of
Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand shall be 00.00 hours of the first day of October, 2026; and
(iv) The details of snowbound non-synchronous areas of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir as well
as the snow-bound non-synchronous areas of the States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand may be accessed by
visiting the website- https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/CGAZ.
[F. No. 9/8/2025- CD (Cen)]
MRITUNJAY KUMAR NARAYAN, Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.