The Union government of India, led by Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, has announced a pivotal policy decision to include caste enumeration in the next national census, following a significant gap since the last data collection in 2011. This move aims to standardize caste data across India, addressing inconsistencies that arise from state-level surveys. Union Home Minister Amit Shah remarked that this decision is critical for promoting social equality and protecting community rights, viewing it as a reflection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to social justice for all societal segments.BJP President JP Nadda said on X that the central cabinet decided on a caste-based census, essential for mainstreaming backward castes. He criticized Congress for opposing the census and using castes for political gain, calling the Modi government’s decision a milestone for social harmony and upliftment.
The announcement has been positively received by opposition leaders, especially from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and socialist parties who have long championed the caste census. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav celebrated this as a victory for his party and a fulfillment of a 30-year demand that he claims was ignored by previous administrations. He advocated for the caste census to be completed before any delimitation process to ensure adequate representation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Adivasis within parliamentary and state assembly structures.
This decision signifies a crucial shift in India’s strategy for tackling social justice and representation, acknowledging the intricate socio-political dynamics within the country’s caste framework. The approval to conduct a caste census has invigorated opposition leaders, who see it as recognition of their demands and a step toward enhancing political representation and rights for diverse societal groups. Furthermore, RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav emphasized the success of the caste survey in Bihar, calling for a reservation quota increase to 65 percent and reinforcing the necessity of conducting the caste census prior to any delimitation to ensure fair representation in legislative bodies.
Overall, the unfolding developments regarding the caste census are expected to have significant implications for India’s political landscape, as various stakeholders observe its implementation and societal reactions.
The cabinet’s recent endorsement of the caste census has been met with enthusiasm across political lines. Congress leader Udit Raj hailed it as a significant win, recognizing a shift in the Modi administration’s approach to a longstanding demand for caste enumeration. Similarly, Samajwadi Party leader Fakhrul Hasan Chand expressed cautious optimism about the decision, emphasizing his party’s commitment to ensuring the accurate execution of the caste census along with the population census.
Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy attributed the caste census initiative to Telangana’s previous caste survey efforts and highlighted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s advocacy during his Bharat Jodo Yatra as a key influence in bringing this issue to the forefront. Reddy thanked Prime Minister Modi and his cabinet for their support, stressing the importance of understanding the needs of various castes to promote equitable development.
Looking back, Lalu Prasad Yadav recalled that the push for caste enumeration began during his tenure with the Janata Dal when the United Front government first proposed it in 1996-97, only to be halted by the subsequent NDA administration under Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Yadav, alongside leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav and Sharad Yadav, continued to advocate for the caste census during the 2011 census, noting that Bihar executed its first caste survey under the Mahagathbandhan coalition. He underlined the crucial role of caste data for effective policy-making.
The decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census is viewed as a historic step to address ongoing demands for better representation and inclusion of marginalized communities. This initiative aims to ensure that historically underrepresented groups receive the acknowledgment and attention needed in governance and public policy. The collective support from various political figures signals a significant push towards a comprehensive and accurate understanding of India’s diverse caste landscape, marking a potential shift in recognizing and meeting the needs of different segments of society.
