The Indian National Congress has voiced concerns that the Modi government is not serious about conducting a comprehensive and fair caste count in the upcoming Census 2027. The party alleges that the government's intentions are questionable, citing inconsistencies in the census questionnaire and a history of resistance to the idea of a caste census.
The first phase of the Census 2027, the Houselisting and Housing Census, is scheduled for April to September 2026. The second phase, Population Enumeration, is slated for September 2026 in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Ladakh, and snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, and February 2027 in the rest of the country. This census will be the first since 1931 to include a caste enumeration.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh pointed to a specific question in the Houselisting and Housing Census schedule that asks whether the head of household belongs to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, or "Other" categories, rather than explicitly asking about OBCs or general categories. Ramesh argues this raises doubts about the government's commitment to a comprehensive and nationwide caste census.
Ramesh highlighted what he sees as a U-turn by the Modi government, which initially rejected the idea of a caste census, as evidenced by responses in the Lok Sabha and affidavits filed in the Supreme Court. He also noted that Prime Minister Modi had previously accused those demanding a caste census of having an "urban naxal mindset". However, the government announced on April 30, 2025, that caste enumeration would be included in Census 2027.
The Congress is urging the central government to initiate discussions with political parties, state governments, and civil society organizations to finalize the details of the caste enumeration exercise. They suggest that these consultations should be similar to those undertaken by the Telangana government for its Socio-Economic, Educational, Employment, Political and Caste (SEEEPC) Survey in 2025. Congress believes this approach would ensure a more comprehensive and meaningful collection of caste-wise information on education, employment, income, and political participation, which are essential for promoting economic and social justice.
The inclusion of caste enumeration in the 2027 census is a significant development, marking the first such effort since 1941. This census aims to provide data that could help bring marginalized communities into the policy mainstream. The census will be conducted digitally, using mobile applications, and will offer a self-enumeration option for citizens. The last comprehensive caste-based count was conducted between 1881 and 1931. The Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) of 2011 enumerated more than 46 lakh castes, while the pre-independence 1931 Census counted 4,147 castes. According to government data, there are approximately 2,650 Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the central list, 1,170 in the Scheduled Caste category, and 890 communities in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list.
The final questionnaire for caste enumeration is expected to be finalized by September 2026, with the second phase of Census 2027 beginning in Ladakh and other snow-bound areas. The caste count in other states will occur during the Population Enumeration phase in February 2027. The 2027 census is expected to serve as the basis for redistributing seats in the Lok Sabha for the 2029 general election.
