The Union government on Wednesday announced that the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has approved the inclusion of caste enumeration in the upcoming national census. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that caste data collection, which last occurred in 2011, will now be centralised under the Union government to avoid discrepancies caused by state-level surveys. He reiterated that caste census falls under the Centre’s jurisdiction and must be conducted uniformly.
Rahul Gandhi asks ‘when’ will the Centre conduct the caste census?
Reacting to the announcement, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi welcomed the decision but stressed the need for transparency and urgency. “We support this completely, but we want a timeline—by when will it be done?” he asked. Gandhi added that Telangana had already set an example by conducting a caste survey, calling the Centre’s decision “the first step” toward ensuring social justice.
Rahul Gandhi said, “Caste census is the first step. Our vision is of bringing a new development paradigm through caste census. Not just reservations but we are also asking central questions – be it OBCs, Dalits, Adivasis, what is their participation in this country? Through Caste Census it will be found, but we have to go ahead of Caste Census…We had said one more thing, Congress had raised one more point, it was mentioned in the manifesto as well — Article 15(5) – reservation in private education institutions. This is already a law. We want NDA-BJP Government to begin implementing it.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also hailed the move, describing caste census as essential for equitable development. “Everyone’s progress is incomplete without participatory justice,” he said. Rahul Gandhi further pointed out the Modi government’s prior opposition to caste enumeration, stating, “They were against it till now, but have suddenly decided to do it. We welcome this step.”
Push to remove 50% cap on reservation
In light of the upcoming caste census, Rahul Gandhi also reiterated his demand for the removal of the 50% cap on reservations, arguing that accurate caste data is vital for crafting policies that ensure fair representation and opportunity for all sections of society.