Congress Accuses Modi Government of Undermining Caste Census Amid Controversial Developments

The Congress party has raised serious allegations against the Narendra Modi-led government, claiming it is attempting to undermine the upcoming caste census. This assertion comes in light of concerns regarding the absence of a drop-down menu for caste selection in the 2027 Census, despite recommendations made by the Centre back in 2021.

Jairam Ramesh, a prominent Congress leader, has been vocal on social media, describing Prime Minister Modi’s shift in stance on the caste census as a significant reversal. Ramesh accused Modi of having previously dismissed the idea of a caste census as being an “urban Naxal” concept. However, in a surprising turn on April 30, 2025, Modi announced that a caste census would indeed take place, leading to confusion and skepticism about the government’s true intentions.

Ramesh pointed out that the Union government had previously filed an affidavit in September 2021 with the Supreme Court, which explicitly rejected calls for a caste census. He highlighted that the affidavit noted there was no comprehensive registry of castes prepared prior to the 2011 Census. According to the document, the implementation of a user-friendly drop-down menu for caste selection would have facilitated the collection of consistent data. Ramesh argued that the absence of such a feature now undermines the integrity and reliability of the forthcoming census.

As the discussion around the caste census intensifies, it is essential to understand the socio-political implications of such an exercise. The caste system has long been a contentious issue in India, deeply intertwined with historical injustices and current socio-economic disparities. With the potential for this census to provide much-needed data on caste demographics, critics of the Modi government are concerned that a lack of transparency and proper methodology could lead to skewed or incomplete results.

In the light of these developments, the Congress party is not only questioning the government’s commitment to accurately capturing caste data but is also calling for a more open dialogue regarding the intended purpose of the census. As India prepares for this significant demographic exercise, the political ramifications of the caste census will undoubtedly shape the narrative leading up to the next elections.

Source: scroll.in