 "Census officials collect details from village women during first phase of the census at Hatkhuwapara Village, near the northeastern Indian city of Guwahati April 1, 2010 for the 2011 census. (Photo: Reuters)")
The Narendra Modi government has decided to include caste-related information in the forthcoming population census.
The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has decided to include caste enumeration in forthcoming census exercise, said Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at a press conference on Wednesday after the Cabinet meeting earlier in the day.
Several quarters have been demanding a caste census for years, including the Congress-led Opposition.
Census was supposed to be conducted in 2021, but continues to be delayed. Firstly, it was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Later, it was delayed due to administrative reasons. The exercise is expected to be started sometime in 2025 and completed the next year.
At the press conference, Vaishnaw said that caste enumeration in census would strengthen the social and economic structure of our society while the nation continues to progress, according to The Indian Express.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs has decided today, that is 30th April 2025, that caste enumeration should be included in the forthcoming Census. This demonstrates that a government is committed to the values and interests of a society and country. This is unlike in the past when a government had introduced 10 per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections (EWS) of the society without causing any stress in any section of the society,” said Vaishnaw.
Drawing a distinction between what the Modi government is proposing and what some other states have done, Vaishnaw said that these states have done “surveys” and a census.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsSuch surveys were conducted in a non-transparent manner and sowed doubts in the society, said Vaishnaw.
In the wake of such concerns, the government would conduct caste enumeration in the census instead of surveys, said Vaishnaw.
So far, Bihar, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh have pursued caste surveys. In some cases, the credibility of the data has been questioned.