For the first time since India’s independence, a caste-based census has been announced. On Wednesday, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved this landmark decision. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated post-meeting, “The government has decided to conduct a caste census alongside the general census.” He accused the Congress of sidelining the issue for decades, adding, “Congress and its allies have merely used it as a political tool.” Political analysts view this as a strategic strike against the opposition, particularly with Bihar elections looming.

The demand for a caste census has long been a rallying cry, now bringing all political parties onto a unified platform. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who has championed the cause for three to four years, calling it “the nation’s X-ray,” welcomed the move. He posted on X, “I said Modi ji would have to conduct a caste census, and we’ve made it happen. This will reveal who holds how much power in our institutions.” The last caste census occurred in 1931 under British rule. In 1951, Jawaharlal Nehru’s government halted caste enumeration, fearing it could deepen social divisions. By 1961, states were allowed to compile OBC lists independently.

The caste census issue gained political traction due to reservation policies. The Mandal Commission’s 1980 recommendation for 27% OBC reservation reignited debates, highlighting the need for comprehensive caste data. In 2011, the UPA government’s Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) attempted to address this, but its data was never fully released, drawing criticism. Opposition parties like Congress, SP, and RJD have consistently pressured the government on this front.

In the absence of a national caste census, states like Bihar, Telangana, and Karnataka conducted their own surveys. Bihar’s 2023 caste survey led to increased reservations, later stayed by courts. The upcoming census, with data expected by late 2026, could transform welfare schemes and reservation policies, reshaping India’s socio-political landscape.