ExplainedCensus 2027
Census 2027 self-enumeration from November 16 in UP, Punjab, Goa and Uttarakhand: how to fill the form online
People in four poll-bound states can count themselves online from November 16 to 30, before enumerators knock from December 1. The dates, how the self-enumeration portal works, the SE ID you must keep, what you will be asked, and your rights and duties under the Census Act.
The short answer
In Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa and the non-snowbound parts of Uttarakhand, households can fill in their own census details online from November 16 to 30, 2026. Enumerators then visit every home from December 1, 2026, to January 4, 2027, with a revisional round from January 5 to 9; the population is counted as it stood at midnight on January 5, 2027. In the house-listing phase, the self-enumeration portal (se.census.gov.in) took a mobile OTP, a map pin for your home and about 15 to 20 minutes, and gave an 11-character SE ID to show the enumerator. Self-enumeration is optional; answering the census truthfully is not.
If you live in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa or Uttarakhand, the census is about to reach you. These four states, which vote for new assemblies in early 2027, have had their population count moved forward so that it finishes before the elections. Before enumerators start knocking on doors, every household gets a chance to count itself online, from November 16 to 30, 2026.
What are the dates?
Self-enumeration first, then the door-to-door count, then a check. The Registrar General’s notification sets this timetable for the four states:
Census 2027 in UP, Punjab, Goa and Uttarakhand
- Nov 16 to 30, 2026Self-enumeration: households fill in their own details online.
- Dec 1, 2026, to Jan 4, 2027Enumerators visit every household.
- Jan 5, 2027, midnightReference moment: the population is counted as it stood then.
- Jan 5 to 9, 2027Revisional round, when records can be reviewed and updated.
- Mar 1, 2027Reference date for the rest of India.
In Uttarakhand, only the areas not cut off by snow are covered by these dates; Ladakh, the snowbound parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and snowbound Uttarakhand were counted with a reference date of October 1, 2026. Manipur is not included: its census has been deferred.
Why are these four states counted early?
Because they go to the polls in early 2027. The assemblies of Punjab, Goa and Uttarakhand end their terms in March 2027 and Uttar Pradesh’s in May, and the count was brought forward because these states are expected to hold their elections in the first half of 2027. The census in these states will be complete before polling begins.
How does self-enumeration work?
On the census self-enumeration portal, in about 15 to 20 minutes. In the house-listing phase earlier in 2026, the portal at se.census.gov.in worked like this:
- Start with the name of the head of the household and a mobile number. Only one mobile number can be used per household.
- Choose a language, from English and 15 Indian languages. This cannot be changed later.
- Verify with the OTP sent to your phone.
- Find your home: pick your district and locality, then drag the marker on the map onto your house. A laptop or desktop makes this easier.
- Answer the questions, which are the same as the enumerator’s. You can save a draft and come back.
- Press Final Submit before the window closes. A draft that is not submitted does not count.
Things to know before you start
- One mobile per householdUse a number someone at home will keep
- Language is finalPick it carefully; it cannot be changed
- Map pinEasier on a laptop than a phone
- No uploadsNo documents are needed
What is the SE ID, and why does it matter?
It is your proof that you have already counted yourself. When you submit, the portal gives you an 11-character SE ID beginning with “H”, on screen, by SMS and by email if you gave one. Take a screenshot. When the enumerator visits, you show the SE ID; if it matches their records, your data is confirmed and they only add details such as the building and census house numbers. If you lose it, you can retrieve it on the portal with your registered mobile number. If the ID does not match, the enumerator collects everything again.
After Final Submit you cannot edit the form yourself, but you can tell the enumerator about a mistake, and they can correct it before uploading.
What will I be asked?
About each person in the household, including caste. The population count has 40 questions, notified on August 14, 2026. They cover age, religion, mother tongue, migration, work and education, Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe status and, for the first time since 1931, caste for every group. Our explainer on what Census 2027 will ask goes through them in detail.
Is it compulsory?
Self-enumeration is optional; answering the census is not. If you do not count yourself online, an enumerator will visit and collect your details anyway. Under Section 8 of the Census Act, 1948, you must answer census questions truthfully to the best of your knowledge, and refusing to answer is an offence that can carry a fine of up to ₹1,000.
Your answers are confidential. Section 15 of the Act guarantees that individual details are not shared; only aggregate figures are published, and data entered on the portal is encrypted and stored on government servers.
Census 2027 in the four states
- Nov 16 to 30self-enumeration window
- 40questions in the population count
- 11characters in your SE ID
- ₹1,000maximum fine for refusing to answer
The documents
- Notification S.O. 4729(E): population enumeration in Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and UttarakhandMinistry of Home Affairs (Gazette of India), September 5, 2026
- Self-enumeration for house listing operations: frequently asked questionsDirectorate of Census Operations, via Goa Department of Information and Publicity, April 1, 2026