The Congress party on Monday raised significant questions about the Narendra Modi-led government's genuine intent to conduct a comprehensive caste enumeration as part of the upcoming Census 2027. This comes after the government's recent publication of the gazette notification for the "houselisting" phase, scheduled to commence in April, which includes a list of 33 questions to be posed to households across the nation.
Omission of OBC Category in Houselisting Questionnaire
Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh highlighted a critical flaw in the questionnaire, specifically pointing to "question 12" which inquires about the caste status of the head of the household. According to Ramesh, this question offers options for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and "other" categories but notably fails to explicitly include Other Backward Classes (OBC) and general categories as distinct choices.
Serious Questions About Government's Commitment
"Since caste enumeration is supposed to be an integral part of Census 2027, the formulation of 'question 12' raises serious doubts about the Modi government's true intentions and its commitment to conducting a comprehensive, fair, and nationwide caste census," Ramesh asserted. He emphasized that this omission could undermine the entire exercise's credibility and effectiveness in capturing accurate demographic data.
Political Context and Government's U-Turn
Ramesh reminded the public that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously rejected demands for a caste census raised by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, even labeling such demands as reflecting an "urban Naxal mindset." However, he noted that the government performed what he called a "U-turn" on April 30 last year, announcing that caste enumeration would indeed be included in Census 2027. Ramesh suggested that this reversal came after significant pressure, stating that the Prime Minister was "forced to capitulate" to growing demands.
Call for Immediate Consultations
The Congress spokesperson demanded that the Modi government immediately initiate a dialogue with political parties, state governments, and civil society organizations before finalizing the details of the caste enumeration exercise. "Congress calls upon the Modi government to immediately initiate a dialogue with political parties, state governments, and civil society organizations before finalizing details of the caste enumeration exercise," Ramesh stated.
He pointed to the Telangana government's caste survey conducted in 2025 as a positive example, where such consultations were an integral part of the process, ensuring broader acceptance and accuracy. The Congress party's stance underscores the ongoing political tension surrounding caste-based data collection and its implications for social justice policies in India.
