The Indian government will incorporate caste-based data collection in the upcoming national census, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed on Wednesday. The decision, he said, was finalized during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Vaishnaw emphasized that the caste enumeration will be carried out “transparently” and is intended to help uplift economically and socially disadvantaged groups, contributing to inclusive national growth.

The decennial census, originally scheduled for 2020, was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It would have ordinarily concluded in 2021.

In announcing the Cabinet’s decision, Vaishnaw also targeted opposition parties—especially the Congress—accusing them of historically resisting caste enumeration and using the issue for political gain.

He referenced the UPA government's handling of the issue in 2010, when then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh suggested the matter be reviewed by the Cabinet. Though a group of ministers was appointed to study it, the Congress-led government opted for the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) instead of a full caste count.

“While many political parties supported the need for caste data, Congress avoided a transparent process. Their approach, and that of their allies in the INDIA bloc, has always been politically driven,” the Minister stated.

Vaishnaw also said caste surveys conducted by some states lacked consistency and objectivity. Some states did well, he noted, but others carried out exercises in a “non-transparent and politically motivated” way, creating confusion among citizens.

As per the Constitution, the subject of conducting the census falls under the Union List, placing it within the jurisdiction of the central government. To avoid political manipulation and ensure credibility, the Centre believes caste data should be collected through the official census mechanism and not via state-level surveys.

Support and Reactions

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a long-time advocate of a caste-based census and a BJP ally, welcomed the announcement. He praised the Centre’s move, calling it a significant step for planning welfare measures based on actual demographic data.

“Our longstanding demand is now being fulfilled. Understanding the population distribution will help formulate better development policies for all communities,” Kumar posted on social media platform X. Bihar had already released the findings of its own caste survey in October 2023, which revealed that 36% of its population belonged to the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), and over 27% to the Backward Classes.

Bihar’s caste survey was conducted in two stages—initially to enumerate households, and later to gather caste and socio-economic information.

The BJP’s Bihar unit began celebrations shortly after the Centre’s announcement, seeing it as an endorsement of the state’s pioneering initiative.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reiterated the party’s commitment to not only caste-based data but also to lifting the 50% cap on reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in education and government employment.

Other Cabinet Decisions

Aside from the caste census, the Cabinet Committee also cleared major infrastructure and agricultural policy measures.

One key approval was for a new greenfield highway project spanning 166.8 kilometers between Mawlyngkhung near Shillong in Meghalaya and Panchgram near Silchar in Assam. The project, to be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode, will cost Rs 22,864 crore.

Additionally, the Cabinet finalized the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for the 2025–26 season. The base FRP has been set at Rs 355 per quintal for a 10.25% recovery rate. For every 0.1% increase in recovery, growers will get Rs 3.46 more, while a similar decrease will result in a deduction of the same amount.