Congress questions caste census design, cites Telangana model as alternative
The Congress party criticised the government's plan for the 2027 Census, saying the lack of a predefined caste list raises doubts about its intent and that parties were not consulted.
On Friday, the Congress party raised concerns over the Centre's approach to caste enumeration in the upcoming Census 2027, arguing that the decision to omit a pre-prepared caste list for respondents casts serious doubt on the government's intentions. The party also claimed that no political parties were consulted during the drafting of the questionnaire. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had previously written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 5, 2025, urging the adoption of the Telangana caste survey framework and broader party consultations, a suggestion the party says was ignored.
The government has now notified a questionnaire comprising 40 items, covering caste details and Covid-vaccination status among other topics. Congress officials framed the lack of a caste list as a transparency issue and called for a more inclusive process. The dispute reflects ongoing tensions over how demographic data will be collected ahead of the next national census.
Why it matters
The debate shapes how caste data will be gathered, influencing future policy and political representation.
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