Onlykashmir.in News Desk
New Delhi: In a landmark decision aimed at strengthening India’s social fabric and ensuring equitable development, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the inclusion of caste enumeration in the upcoming Census. This historic move underscores the government’s commitment to evidence-based policymaking, social justice, and inclusive growth, while upholding constitutional values.
Under Article 246 of the Constitution, the Census is a Union subject (Entry 69, Seventh Schedule), ensuring uniformity and credibility in data collection. While some states have conducted independent caste surveys in the past, these efforts have often been politically motivated, inconsistent, and lacking transparency, leading to societal apprehensions.
By integrating caste enumeration into the main Census process, the government aims to:
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Eliminate discrepancies in caste data collection.
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Prevent politicization of caste-based statistics.
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Strengthen welfare schemes by ensuring accurate identification of beneficiaries.
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Foster social harmony by addressing historical inequities with reliable data.
Since Independence, caste data was excluded from Census operations, except for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). In 2010, the then-Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, assured Parliament that the demand for a caste census would be examined. A Group of Ministers (GoM) was constituted, and most political parties supported the idea. However, the previous government opted for a standalone Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) in 2011, which faced criticism for incomplete data and methodological flaws.
The Modi government’s decision aligns with its pro-poor, pro-backward class policies, such as the 10% EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) reservation, which was implemented without social unrest due to its inclusive approach.
This move will:
✔ Enhance targeted welfare schemes for OBCs and other marginalized groups.
✔ Provide empirical data for better policy formulation.
✔ Ensure no community is left behind in India’s development journey.
Including caste enumeration in the Census marks a transformative step toward governance rooted in data-driven decisions and social justice. It reaffirms the government’s resolve to build an inclusive, united, and prosperous India where every citizen’s progress contributes to the nation’s collective growth.
Meanwhile, describing caste enumeration as Congress’s “vision,” Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday welcomed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s decision to conduct a caste census while demanding a clear timeline for its completion. Rahul called the government’s decision the “first step” toward deeper social reform.
