In a major policy shift, the Indian government has decided to include caste enumeration in the next national population census. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the decision after a Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs meeting, calling it a historic step toward social empowerment.
The upcoming census will now record detailed caste-wise data across India, marking the first such nationwide exercise since independence. This ends decades of political debate over whether caste details should be collected in the decadal census.
Home Minister Amit Shah welcomed the move, calling it a strong commitment to social equality. He accused opposition parties of using the caste census issue for political gains while failing to implement it during their rule. The decision comes ahead of crucial state elections in Bihar, where backward classes form over 60% of the population.
The announcement follows several state-level caste surveys, beginning with Bihar’s landmark exercise in 2023. That survey revealed 36% of Bihar’s population belongs to Extremely Backward Classes and 27% to Backward Classes. The findings led to increased reservation quotas and intensified opposition demands for a national caste census.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had made caste census a key poll promise in recent state elections. The party implemented local caste surveys after winning in Karnataka and Telangana. However, the BJP government had previously resisted nationwide caste enumeration until now.
Minister Vaishnaw criticized state-level surveys as politically motivated, emphasizing only the central government can legally conduct a proper caste census. He assured the national exercise would be transparent and comprehensive, covering all castes and sub-castes across India.
The decision is expected to reshape India’s social welfare policies and reservation system. Accurate caste data could help better target affirmative action programs for disadvantaged communities. Political analysts suggest the move may also influence upcoming state elections where caste dynamics play a crucial role.
The census preparations will now include designing new questions and categories to capture detailed caste information. Government officials confirm the exercise remains on schedule for 2025 despite this significant expansion in scope.
As India prepares for its first full caste census, the move has been hailed as a major step toward understanding and addressing historical social inequalities. The data could transform how the nation approaches social justice and economic empowerment for its diverse communities.
The implementation will be closely watched, as accurate caste enumeration presents both technical and social challenges. However, the government has expressed confidence in conducting a smooth and inclusive counting process that serves all sections of society.
Disclaimer: This report is based on official government announcements and political statements. The implementation details of the caste census may evolve as the exercise progresses.
Source: NDTV
