Caste data to be part of next population census

Historic govt move, say BJP, allies; Rahul seeks timeline

New Delhi: In a significant move, the Centre on Wednesday announced that caste enumeration will be part of the next population census, with the inclusion of caste details for the first time since independence hailed by BJP and its allies as a “historic” step to help design “truly equitable and focussed” policies.

The decision taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) at its meeting here presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes ahead of assembly elections in Bihar, where caste is a key political issue and several parties including some BJP allies have been coming out in support of the caste census.

The proposed caste census – the latest manifestation of pro-OBC politics – to be undertaken in a “transparent manner” in a major policy shift was welcomed by BJP as a reflection of its commitment to social equality and the rights of every section of society.

The opposition parties on their part said it is a victory for their long-standing demand and claimed that the BJP has been compelled to bow to the will of the majority.

The Congress and other opposition parties have been vociferously demanding a nationwide caste census, making it a major election issue, and some states like Bihar, Telangana and Karnataka have conducted such surveys.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also raised the slogan of “jitni aabadi, utna haq” or proportional representation.

Announcing the decision taken by the CCPA at a news conference, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the census comes under the purview of the Centre, but some states have done caste enumeration in the name of surveys “non-transparently” which has created doubts in the society.

Noting that caste was not included in all census operations conducted since Independence, Vaishnaw alleged that the Congress governments have always opposed caste census and the party had used the issue as a political tool.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has decided today (30th April 2025) that caste enumeration should be included in the forthcoming Census,” he said.

“Considering all these facts and to ensure that the social fabric is not disturbed by politics, caste enumeration should be transparently included in the Census instead of surveys,” he said, adding that this will strengthen the social and economic structure of our society while the nation continues to progress.

Vaishnaw alleged that the states ruled by opposition parties have done caste surveys for political reasons and emphasised that the Modi government has resolved to transparently include caste enumeration in the forthcoming pan-India census exercise.

“This demonstrates that our government is committed to the values and interests of our society and country, like in the past when our government had introduced 10% reservation for the economically weaker sections of the society without causing stress in any section of the society.”

The surprise announcement by the government on caste census was also seen as an attempt by the BJP to embrace opposition’s social justice plank with vigour.

“Better late than never,” Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.

Rahul Gandhi told reporters that he welcomes the government’s “sudden” decision to include caste enumeration in the next census after “11 years of opposing it” but said it should give a timeline for its implementation.

The last nationwide census was completed in 2011 and the next decadal one was to commence in April 2020 but got delayed due to the Covid pandemic.

A senior government functionary said the government is likely to carry out the census “soon” as a decision on whether to conduct the caste census or not was delaying the entire population enumeration exercise after the Covid pandemic was over.