SRINAGAR: The 2027 census, the first since 2011, is set to reshape the socio-political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir by including caste enumeration and serving as the basis for the next delimitation of Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies.
According to a recent notification, the census will be conducted in two phases with October 1, 2026, as the reference date for Ladakh and snow-bound areas, and March 1, 2027, for the rest of the country. This will be India’s 16th census and the first to include caste data since 1931.
For Jammu and Kashmir, this census carries special significance. It will, for the first time, enumerate Paharis, Paddaris, Gadda Brahmans, and Kolis—communities added to the Scheduled Tribe list in 2024. Data on Other Backward Classes (OBCs) will also be gathered for the first time in the Union Territory.
Currently, there is no official count of the Pahari population in JK. Officials say the new data will help determine the population strength of these communities, which will influence resource allocation and representation. STs in J&K are entitled to 20 percent reservation in total—10 percent each to ST1 and ST2. As per the 2011 census, the ST1 population in J&K was over 12.75 lakh, with 8.10 lakh in Jammu and 4.64 lakh in Kashmir.
JK has 20 castes in the central OBC list and 41 in the UT list. These groups currently enjoy 8 percent reservation in government jobs. The Centre is expected to use both lists during the census exercise.
The census will also serve as the basis for the next delimitation of electoral constituencies, as mandated by the JK Reorganisation Act, 2019, which states that readjustment of seats cannot take place until after census figures post-2026 are available. The last delimitation was completed on May 5, 2022.
Experts say the upcoming census will intensify identity politics in J&K. “With new communities added to reservation lists, the census will shape future political negotiations and community entitlements,” senior journalist Zaffar Choudhary said.
The Rs 13,000 crore exercise will deploy 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors using digital devices. Citizens can also opt for self-enumeration. Training for the massive exercise begins in October 2025.
The census, earlier planned for 2021, was postponed due to the pandemic. It is not yet confirmed if the National Population Register (NPR) will be updated alongside this exercise. (With KNO Inputs)
