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The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the inclusion of caste enumeration in the upcoming national census. The decision reflects the government’s commitment to inclusive development and strengthening the social fabric.

Caste enumeration has been excluded from post-Independence censuses, despite past political deliberations and growing demands for accurate data on caste demographics.

Under Article 246 of the Indian Constitution, the census is a Union subject, listed at Entry 69 in the Seventh Schedule. While several states have independently conducted caste-based surveys, these efforts have often lacked transparency and have been viewed as politically motivated, raising questions of legitimacy and intent.

To address these concerns and prevent fragmentation of society through politicised data collection, the Centre has now opted to include caste enumeration as part of the official census rather than conducting it as a separate exercise.

The government stated that this move will support balanced economic and social planning, ensuring the nation’s development proceeds without disruption or division. Officials cited the smooth implementation of the 10 per cent reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) as an example of how inclusive policies can be introduced without triggering societal tension.

In 2010, then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh promised Parliament that the issue of caste census would be considered by the Cabinet. A Group of Ministers was later formed, and most political parties expressed support for caste enumeration. Despite this, the previous government implemented a survey-based approach instead, launching the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC), which fell short of full caste enumeration and sparked debates over its methodology and data integrity.

The inclusion of caste data in the upcoming census is expected to improve data-driven policymaking, enhance resource allocation, and foster greater social justice, marking a significant step in India’s evolving census framework.