Dehradun | April 11, 2026 — The first phase of the national census officially commenced in Uttarakhand on Friday, marked by a high-profile launch involving the state’s top leadership. Governor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Gurmit Singh, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, and Cabinet Minister Madan Kaushik initiated the process by digitally submitting their own information via the new “Self-Enumeration” portal.
The ‘Digital First’ Census
In a significant departure from previous traditional methods, Census 2027 is leveraging the Digital India framework to allow citizens to provide their data directly.
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Self-Enumeration Portal: For the first time, residents can visit se.census.gov.in to enter their details before an official visit.
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The Timeline:
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Self-Enumeration Window: April 10 to April 24, 2026.
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Door-to-Door Collection: April 25 to May 24, 2026 (for those who did not self-enumerate or to verify IDs).
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The SE ID: Citizens who complete the online process will receive a Unique Self-Enumeration (SE) ID. This ID must be presented to the enumerator during the field visit to expedite the process.
Focus of Phase One: Houselisting
The current phase focuses on the ‘Houselisting and Housing Census.’ During this exercise, citizens are required to answer 33 specific questions regarding:
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Housing Conditions: Type of structure, ownership status, and number of rooms.
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Amenities: Access to electricity, drinking water, and toilet facilities.
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Assets: Ownership of basic household assets (vehicles, electronics, etc.).
State-Wide Deployment
The Uttarakhand government has deployed a massive workforce to ensure the campaign’s success:
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Personnel: Over 30,000 enumerators and supervisors are active across the state.
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Mascots: The public is encouraged to look for the census mascots, ‘Pragati’ and ‘Vikas’, who represent progress and development.
Leadership Appeal
Governor Gurmit Singh described the census as the “foundation of the state’s development,” emphasizing that accurate data is crucial for reliable planning. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami added that this data is the primary tool for ensuring government schemes reach the “last mile” of the population.
The launch event was attended by senior officials, including Iva Ashish Srivastava, Director of Census (Ministry of Home Affairs), and Deepak Kumar, Census Secretary for the Uttarakhand Government. Residents are urged to cooperate with officials and utilize the digital portal to contribute to the accuracy of the 2027 count.
