Centre clears caste census in next enumeration, blames Opposition for politicising the issue

New Delhi, 30-04-2025: In a significant political and social development, the central government has announced that caste enumeration will be part of the upcoming nationwide census, promising the exercise will be carried out in a transparent manner. This move marks a major shift in the Centre’s position and comes amid persistent demands from opposition parties, especially the Congress, to include caste data in the decennial census. States like Bihar, Telangana, and Karnataka have already conducted caste-based surveys independently, sparking a larger national debate on the issue.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while announcing the decision taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, asserted that the census is solely under the Centre’s jurisdiction as per Article 246 of the Constitution, and criticized opposition-ruled states for carrying out what he described as politically motivated and non-transparent surveys. These efforts, he said, have led to confusion and mistrust among citizens. The minister highlighted that caste data was excluded from all post-Independence census operations except for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and accused successive Congress-led governments of deliberately avoiding full caste enumeration.

Vaishnaw also pointed to the Congress’ shifting stance, noting that while the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had in 2010 assured Parliament that caste enumeration would be considered by the Cabinet, the Congress ultimately opted for the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC), which he argued fell short of a full-fledged caste census. He accused Congress and its INDIA bloc allies of using the issue merely as a political instrument, especially during elections, rather than addressing it as a matter of social justice and governance.

The timing of the government’s announcement is crucial, coming just ahead of key assembly elections in Bihar, a state where caste identities play a pivotal role in politics and where even BJP allies have voiced support for a comprehensive caste census. The opposition, particularly the Congress, responded to the decision by framing it as a delayed but welcome step. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh referred to the party’s April 9, 2025 resolution on social justice and reiterated its demand for a nationwide caste census, citing a 2023 letter from party president Mallikarjun Kharge to Prime Minister Modi calling for the same.

Home Minister Amit Shah took to social media platform X to reinforce the government’s intent, stating that the inclusion of caste enumeration in the census reflects a strong commitment to equality and empowerment of every section of society. Shah criticized Congress for opposing caste census during its tenure in power and reiterated that the Modi government’s approach is inclusive, citing the 10% reservation granted earlier to economically weaker sections without disrupting existing quotas.

The government has not yet provided a clear timeline for the conduct of the census, which was due in 2021 but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Although Home Minister Shah had earlier said the census would be conducted “very soon,” the exact schedule remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the announcement has re-ignited the political discourse around caste and social justice, with the government positioning itself as willing to act in the national interest while accusing the opposition of exploiting the issue for electoral gains.

The decision is also expected to influence voter sentiment, particularly among Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and marginalized communities, by promising a data-driven approach to representation and resource distribution. With the census now expected to include caste enumeration in a formal and centralised framework, the political and social implications are likely to be far-reaching in the months to come.