Caste Census to Be Included in National Population Survey: Major Cabinet Decision Announced
Caste Census to Be Included in National Population Survey: Major Cabinet Decision Announced
In a significant move, the Union Cabinet has decided to include caste enumeration in the upcoming national population census, with Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirming the decision during a media briefing on Wednesday. This resolution, approved in a Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to conduct the caste census in a “transparent manner” as part of the next national census exercise.
Vaishnaw emphasized that the inclusion of caste data would support the economic and social empowerment of marginalized groups, contributing to national progress. He noted that the census, originally scheduled to begin in April 2020, had been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Had it been carried out as planned, the census report would have been published in 2021.
In his remarks, Vaishnaw criticized the Congress party and the INDIA bloc, accusing them of using caste-based population data for political leverage. “Congress governments have consistently opposed the caste census. In 2010, former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh recommended a caste census, but Congress chose to conduct a non-transparent survey instead,” Vaishnaw stated, referring to the SECC (Socio-Economic and Caste Census). He also criticized some regional parties for conducting caste surveys without transparency, further fueling societal doubts.
The demand for a caste census has been a long-standing issue, particularly among the Congress, the INDIA bloc, and regional parties. Recently, Congress-ruled Karnataka also conducted its own caste survey, which faced opposition from various communities, including Vokkaliga and Lingayat groups, who argued that the findings of a 2010 report were inadequate for their needs.
Bihar CM Welcomes Caste Census Decision
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a key ally of the BJP, welcomed the Centre’s decision to conduct a caste census. “This is a historic step. Conducting a caste census will allow for targeted development plans for various communities and accelerate the country’s progress,” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Bihar had already initiated its own caste census in 2023, revealing that 36% of the state’s population belonged to the Extremely Backward Class, and 27.13% to the Backward Class.
Following the announcement, the Bihar unit of the BJP celebrated the decision, with party leaders emphasizing the importance of the census for the state’s development.
Political Reactions and Opposition Support
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, continuing to push for a caste census, vowed that his party would advocate for lifting the 50% cap on reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) in government jobs and education.
Other Key Cabinet Decisions
Apart from the caste census, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs also approved several major initiatives, including the development of a 166.80 km high-speed corridor from Mawlyngkhung (Meghalaya) to Panchgram (Assam) under the Hybrid Annuity Mode, at a cost of Rs. 22,864 crore. Additionally, the Cabinet approved the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for the 2025-26 season, setting it at Rs. 355 per quintal for a recovery rate of 10.25%.
