The Uttar Pradesh government is gearing up for its biggest census yet, with a massive team of 5 lakh personnel deployed across the state to collect data. The census will be conducted in two phases, with the first phase focusing on houselisting and housing data collection starting May 22nd, 2026. This phase will involve enumerators visiting every household to collect information on housing conditions, amenities, and household assets through a structured questionnaire. Residents will also have the option to self-enumerate through an online portal between May 7th and May 21st, 2026, generating a unique ID that will later be verified by enumerators.

The second phase of the census will take place in February 2027 and will involve population enumeration at the individual level. This phase will capture detailed demographic data, including age, gender, education, migration, and economic activity. For the first time, the census will also include caste enumeration at the individual level, marking a significant shift in the scope of data collection.

The scale of operations in Uttar Pradesh is staggering, with the state divided into approximately 3.9 lakh houselisting blocks, each covering an average population of 700 to 800 people. A multi-tier administrative structure has been put in place to execute the census, ranging from state-level officials to field-level staff. Each supervisor will oversee a group of enumerators to maintain data quality and ensure adherence to defined boundaries.

The census is not just a headcount exercise but a comprehensive data collection process that forms the backbone of policy planning. It provides granular data at the village, town, and ward level on housing, literacy, economic activity, migration, and social composition, which is crucial for targeted development programs. The reference date for Census 2027 has been fixed as 00:00 hours of March 1st, 2027, and administrative boundaries have already been frozen as of December 31st, 2025, to ensure consistency during enumeration.