In a major decision, the central government on Wednesday announced that caste enumeration will be included in the upcoming population census.
Briefing the media on the Union Cabinet’s decisions, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that while some states have carried out caste-based surveys, conducting a census falls strictly within the jurisdiction of the central government.
“The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) has decided today that caste enumeration will be part of the forthcoming census,” Vaishnaw stated.
He criticized previous Congress governments, accusing them of consistently opposing the idea of a caste census.
“Since independence, caste was never included in any official census. In 2010, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured the Lok Sabha that the matter would be taken up by the cabinet. A Group of Ministers was formed to deliberate on the issue, and most political parties supported a caste census. However, the Congress-led government at the time opted only for a caste-based survey — the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) — instead of a full-fledged census,” he said.
Vaishnaw further alleged that the Congress and its INDI alliance partners have used the issue of caste census purely for political purposes.
He emphasized that under Article 246 of the Constitution, the census is listed at Entry 69 of the Union List in the Seventh Schedule, making it exclusively a Union subject.
“While some states have conducted caste surveys — some effectively, others for political gain in a non-transparent manner — the central government believes that a transparent caste enumeration as part of the official census will prevent the politicization of this sensitive issue,” he said.
The minister asserted that this move will contribute to strengthening the country’s social and economic framework.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has taken this decision, demonstrating the government’s commitment to the values and aspirations of society,” he added.
Vaishnaw also highlighted the Modi government’s past efforts in social justice, including the introduction of a 10 per cent reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), which was implemented without adversely affecting any existing category.
(ANI)
