Polity · 11 Aug 2026

Census 2027 Ladakh caste enumeration

Consider the following statements regarding the Population Enumeration phase currently underway in Ladakh:

  1. Enumeration in Ladakh and other snow-bound areas will be completed before the national Census enumeration begins in the rest of the country.
  2. Ladakh has been exempted from mandatory geo-tagging of structures primarily on account of poor internet connectivity in snow-bound terrain.
  3. The last time India conducted a full caste-based enumeration was in 1931, during British rule.
A1 only
B3 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
This question is based on: Ladakh preparing the ground for Independent India's first caste census
Take this in full test mode → Instructions for 11 Aug 2026
About this question

Why in news

The Directorate of Census Operations, J&K and Ladakh, has completed master-trainer training ahead of Population Enumeration in snow-bound areas from August 17, even though Ladakh was excluded from the national pre-test conducted across 16 States/UTs.

Why for UPSC

UPSC frequently tests the exceptions and conditions built into a headline policy rather than the headline itself - here, why a "digital-first" Census still has a paper-based, non-geo-tagged carve-out and the historical baseline (1931) that makes any caste enumeration significant.

Prelims summary

India's Census 2027 is digital-first, but Ladakh gets a paper-based, non-geo-tagged exception due to border security, not connectivity.
The last full caste count was in 1931.

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