Hyderabad: As preparations begin for the upcoming national Census, a concern is emerging in Telangana over the possible underrepresentation of several Backward Class (BC) communities in official records.
According to the scheduled timeline, the house listing phase of the Census in Telangana will be conducted from May 11 to June 9, 2026. This phase will document households, buildings and related socio-economic indicators. The population enumeration phase will follow from February 9 to February 28, 2027, when detailed demographic information will be collected from residents across the state.
However, questions have been raised regarding the classification of Backward Class communities during the enumeration process. Telangana officially recognises 130 castes under the Backward Classes category, but the Central Government’s OBC list includes only 90 castes from the state.
The gap of 40 communities not included in the Central OBC list has triggered concern among officials and community representatives who fear that the actual BC population in Telangana may not be accurately reflected in Census data.
Officials point out that the Census exercise relies on recognised lists and categories for classification. If the excluded communities remain outside the Central OBC list, their representation in national data may be limited, potentially affecting policy discussions, welfare planning and representation linked to backward class demographics.
Earlier, the Telangana government and the State BC Commission had urged the Central Government to include these 40 castes in the Central OBC list. The proposal has been pending for some time, and no final decision has yet been announced.
In this context, the Chairman has written to K. Ramakrishna Rao, Chief Secretary to the Government of Telangana, seeking necessary action to facilitate the inclusion of the remaining BC communities in the Central OBC list before the Census process proceeds.
Experts say the issue highlights the complex relationship between state-level recognition of social groups and national classification systems. As the Census moves forward, the resolution of such discrepancies could play an important role in ensuring that demographic data accurately reflects the social composition of the state.
With the Census exercise expected to influence future policy planning and welfare schemes, the debate over the inclusion of the remaining BC communities is likely to remain a significant issue in Telangana in the coming months.
