Govt to Include Caste Enumeration in Forthcoming Census: Ashwini Vaishnaw

New Delhi, Apr 30: In a significant policy shift, the Central government on Wednesday announced that caste enumeration will be included in the upcoming national census exercise. The decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs and was shared with the media by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Addressing a press conference, Vaishnaw emphasized that the census, a central subject under the Constitution, will now incorporate caste-based data in a “transparent” manner. He took aim at opposition-ruled states, accusing them of conducting caste surveys for political gains under the guise of state-level exercises.

“This government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is committed to conducting a transparent and inclusive caste enumeration as part of the forthcoming pan-India census,” the minister stated.

The decennial census, originally scheduled to begin in April 2020, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With this fresh decision, the Modi government appears to be addressing longstanding demands from various political and social groups for more detailed caste data to inform policy-making and welfare distribution.

Further details on the methodology and timeline for the caste enumeration are expected in the coming weeks.