Modi Government Approves Caste Census in National Survey

In a big move, the Modi government has decided to include caste enumeration in India’s upcoming national census, marking the first official caste-based data collection since independence. The decision, announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw following a Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to address long-standing demands for comprehensive caste data to inform social justice and welfare policies.

The announcement comes amid growing calls from opposition parties and regional leaders for a caste census to better understand the socio-economic status of marginalised communities. Vaishnaw emphasised that the process would be conducted transparently, adhering to standardised protocols to ensure credibility and avoid the political biases. “This is a step toward strengthening India’s social and economic framework while preserving national unity,” he stated during a press briefing. He also lashed out at opposition ruled states for independently carrying out caste census which he claimed had led to confusion. He also asserted that only the Central government had the authority to conduct such a caste based survey. "Some states have done surveys from a purely political angle in a non-transparent way. Considering all these facts and to ensure that a social fabric is not disturbed by politics, caste enumeration should be transparently included in the survey," he said.

The decision aligns with the constitutional mandate under Article 246, which designates the census as a Union subject. Vaishnaw highlighted the government’s commitment to social harmony, citing the successful implementation of a 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) as an example of inclusive policy-making. He also criticised past Congress-led governments for “resisting caste enumeration”, noting that a 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) was limited in scope and lacked transparency.

The inclusion of caste data in the national census, originally scheduled for 2021 but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is expected to have far-reaching implications. Analysts suggest it could reshape affirmative action policies and influence political strategies ahead of the 2029 general elections, particularly in states like Bihar, where caste dynamics play a significant role. Interestingly the announcement came months ahead of Bihar Assembly elections slated later this year. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had conducted a caste census when he was part of the ‘Mahagatbandhan’ along with the RJD and the Congress. Lok Sabha leader of the opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had made his demand for caste census a single point political cry in the run up to the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in which BJP was reduced to 240 seats. Congress has hailed this as the victory of Rahul Gandhi’s persistence.

Union ministers Amit Shah; Rajnath Singh; , Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitaraman and JP Nadda were part of the CCPA.
Welcoming the move, JDU working president Sanjay Jha in a post on X, also hailed it historic. "In accordance with his policy of 'Development with Justice', the National President of Janata Dal United and the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Bihar @NitishKumar ji has conducted the caste census in Bihar with complete transparency and has also made its results public. He clearly believes that it is necessary to have accurate data of various castes for the purpose of reducing socio-economic inequality and making accurate plans for the welfare of the targeted sections," Jha said. In Bihar over 27 per cent of the population comes under Backward classes and 36 percent from Extremely Backward Class.​