India Census enumeration in 4 states starts December 1

The Indian government has advanced the population enumeration phase of the Census 2027 in four states scheduled for early 2027 elections, moving the exercise to begin on December 1, 2026. The Registrar General of India issued a notification on Saturday, September 5, 2026, stating that the count in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, and the non-snowbound areas of Uttarakhand will run from December 1, 2026, to January 4, 2027. A revisional round will follow from January 5 to January 9, 2027, with January 5, 2027, serving as the reference date for population data in these regions. The decision was made to avoid logistical conflicts with upcoming state assembly elections. The terms of the assemblies in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand end by May 2027, and these states are expected to hold polls early next year. Officials noted that a wide range of government servants, primarily teachers, are engaged in both the Census and election exercises, making it difficult to conduct them simultaneously. The advance schedule allows the government to complete the enumeration before the election period begins.