Union Cabinet Approves Caste Enumeration in Upcoming Census; Major Infrastructure and Agriculture Decisions Also Cleared
In a landmark decision, the Union Cabinet has approved the inclusion of caste data in the forthcoming national population census, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Wednesday. The decision was taken during a Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aiming to carry out the caste census in a “transparent and accountable” way as part of the broader census exercise.
Vaishnaw highlighted that this move is intended to bolster the economic and social upliftment of marginalized communities, contributing to national growth. He recalled that the census, originally slated to begin in April 2020, was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The census report, had it proceeded as scheduled, would have been published in 2021.
The minister took a jab at the Congress party and the INDIA bloc, accusing them of politicizing caste data. “Congress governments have persistently resisted a caste census. In 2010, former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh proposed one, but Congress ended up conducting a non-transparent survey,” Vaishnaw said, referring to the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC). He also criticized certain regional parties for conducting incomplete and unclear caste surveys, which he said fueled further mistrust.
The push for a caste census has been long championed by the Congress, INDIA bloc allies, and several regional parties. Karnataka, governed by Congress, recently conducted its own caste survey, sparking backlash from Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities, who argued the previous 2010 survey failed to represent their demographics adequately.
Bihar Applauds the Move
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a close BJP ally, praised the Centre’s decision, calling it a “historic and transformative step.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kumar said, “A caste census will enable focused development plans for different communities, accelerating the country’s advancement.” Bihar had already completed its own caste census in 2023, revealing that 36% of the population falls under the Extremely Backward Class category and 27.13% under the Backward Class.
The Bihar BJP welcomed the Centre’s announcement, with party leaders underscoring the significance of the census for the state’s progress.
Political Reactions
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi reiterated his demand for a nationwide caste census and pledged that his party would push for removing the 50% cap on reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) in government jobs and educational institutions.
Other Key Cabinet Approvals
In addition to the caste census, the Cabinet greenlit several major initiatives. These include the construction of a 166.80 km high-speed corridor between Mawlyngkhung in Meghalaya and Panchgram in Assam, to be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Model at a cost of ₹22,864 crore. The Cabinet also approved the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane for the 2025–26 season, setting it at ₹355 per quintal based on a recovery rate of 10.25%.
