Shimla, June 1 -- North Indian hill state Himachal Pradesh on Monday launched the self-enumeration phase of Census 2027, with Governor Kavinder Gupta registering himself on the official portal and urging citizens to actively participate in the nationwide exercise that will help shape future development policies and welfare programmes.

The launch assumes added significance as the state's snow-bound and tribal regions will be among the first areas in the country to be covered during the second phase of Census 2027. Population enumeration in these remote areas is scheduled from September 11 to September 30, several months ahead of the national schedule of February 9 to February 28, 2027.

Speaking to the media in Shimla on Monday after inau...