Weekly Roundup: Census 2027, Ladakh's New Districts & Army Appointments
This week: India launches its first-ever Digital Census 2027, Ladakh gets 5 new districts, Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth appointed Vice Chief of Army, and Shekha Jheel becomes India's 99th Ramsar Site.
Published: May 4, 2026 · TaiyarHo Editorial
📌Key Points at a Glance
- 1India officially begins rollout of Census 2027 — the country's first-ever Digital Census.
- 2Census 2027 mascots: "Pragati" (Progress) and "Vikas" (Development). Self-enumeration available in 16 languages.
- 3LG Vinai Kumar Saxena approves 5 new districts in Ladakh: Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass.
- 4Ladakh now has 7 total districts — up from just Leh and Kargil previously.
- 5Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth appointed as the new Vice Chief of the Indian Army.
- 6Ashwini Bhide becomes the first-ever female Commissioner of BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation).
- 7Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary (Aligarh, UP) designated as India's 99th Ramsar Site.
- 8UP now has 12 Ramsar wetland sites — the highest count among all Indian states.
National Affairs
Commencement of Census 2027
India has officially started the rollout of Census 2027 — a landmark exercise and the country's first-ever Digital Census. The Census was originally scheduled for 2021 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Key features include a Self-Enumeration facility available in 16 languages, allowing citizens to fill in their own data via a mobile app or web portal. The government has officially named the two mascots of Census 2027: "Pragati" (representing Progress) and "Vikas" (representing Development).
Why it matters for exams: Demography, Social Issues — UPSC GS Paper 1, SSC CGL General Awareness, State PSC prelims.
5 New Districts Created in Ladakh
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena approved the creation of 5 new districts in the Union Territory of Ladakh. The new districts are: Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass. Prior to this decision, Ladakh had only 2 districts — Leh and Kargil. With this addition, Ladakh now has a total of 7 districts.
Context: Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union Territory from Jammu and Kashmir on October 31, 2019 (Reorganisation Act, 2019).
Why it matters: Geography and Polity — direct question potential for SSC CGL, SSC CPO, and State PSC geography/polity sections.
Appointments
New Vice Chief of the Indian Army
Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth has been appointed as the Vice Chief of the Indian Army. The Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) is the second highest position in the Indian Army, after the Chief of Army Staff.
First Female BMC Commissioner
Ashwini Bhide has been appointed as the Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), making her the first-ever woman to hold this position. BMC is the richest municipal corporation in India and one of the largest in Asia.
Why it matters: Appointments are a high-probability topic for Banking (IBPS PO, SBI PO) and SSC CPO exams.
Environment
India's 99th Ramsar Site
Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary, located in Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh, has been officially designated as a Ramsar Site — making it India's 99th Ramsar Wetland. With this addition, Uttar Pradesh now has 12 Ramsar sites, the highest count among all Indian states.
What is a Ramsar Site? It is a wetland site designated under the Ramsar Convention (1971), an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. India became a signatory in 1982.
Why it matters: Environment and Ecology — vital for UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1, SSC CGL, RRB NTPC, and Banking GK sections.
🧠Quick Quiz
Test yourself — based on this week's news
Q1. What are the mascots of India's Census 2027?
Q2. How many total districts does Ladakh have after the addition of 5 new districts?
Q3. Which wetland has been designated as India's 99th Ramsar Site?