In a landmark decision, the central government announced on Wednesday that the upcoming nationwide population census will also include a caste-based survey, marking a significant shift in policy.
The decision was finalized during a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, speaking to the media following the meeting, stated, โToday, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has agreed to integrate caste-based data collection into the next census.โ
This development is politically crucial, as the demand for a caste census has been a key agenda of the Congress-led INDIA bloc and has found considerable resonance among the general population.
Political analysts believe this unexpected move by the Centre could reshape existing social dynamics and have a major impact on voter sentiments.
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Until now, the government had been hesitant to conduct a caste census, citing concerns over social division and disharmony. However, the Congress party and its allies, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), have consistently pushed for it, arguing that equitable representation in governance should reflect the population composition of all communities.
With this announcement, the BJP-led central government appears to have strategically countered one of the Congressโs most prominent narratives, potentially neutralizing its criticism on the issue.
เคเคเคผเคพเคฆเฅ เคเฅ เคฌเคพเคฆ เคนเฅเค เคธเคญเฅ เคเคจเคเคฃเคจเคพเคเค เคฎเฅเค เคเคพเคคเคฟเคฏเฅเค เคเฅ เคเคฃเคจเคพ เคจเคนเฅเค เคเฅ เคเค โ เคฏเคน เคเคพเคเคเฅเคฐเฅเคธ เคชเคพเคฐเฅเคเฅ เคเฅ เคฆเฅเคนเคฐเฅ เคฎเคพเคชเคฆเคเคก เคเคฐ เคชเคพเคเคเคก เคเคพ เคเค เคเคฐ เคฌเคกเคผเคพ เคเคฆเคพเคนเคฐเคฃ เคนเฅเฅค เคเฅ เคเคพเคฎ เคฆเคถเคเฅเค เคธเฅ เคเคพเคฒเคพ เคเคฏเคพ, เคเคธ เคชเคฐ เคเคพเคเคเฅเคฐเฅเคธ เคจเฅ เคเฅเคตเคฒ เคฆเคฟเคเคพเคตเคเฅ เคฐเคพเคเคจเฅเคคเคฟ เคเฅเฅค
2010 เคฎเฅเค เคคเคคเฅเคเคพเคฒเฅเคจ PM เคกเฅ. เคฎเคจเคฎเฅเคนเคจ เคธเคฟเคเคน เคจเฅ เคฒเฅเคเคธเคญเคพ เคฎเฅเค เคเคพเคคเคฟ เคเคจเคเคฃเคจเคพ เคชเคฐ เคตเคฟเคเคพเคฐ เคเคพโฆ
โ Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) April 30, 2025
The timing of the announcement is also critical, as it precedes the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled for later this yearโan arena where caste identity plays a decisive role in political outcomes.
In Bihar, major partiesโincluding the Congress, RJD, JD(U), and othersโrely heavily on caste alliances to secure electoral victories.
By integrating the caste survey with the broader national census, the BJP seeks to position itself as a champion of social equity and transparency, while also challenging the oppositionโs long-standing claim of championing backward caste rights solely for electoral benefits. (Edited)
