KKN Gurugram Desk | In a landmark decision with potentially far-reaching political and social implications, the Government of India has announced that the 2025 national census will include caste-wise enumeration for the first time since independence. This move is expected to serve as the basis for a comprehensive revision of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) list, which has remained largely unchanged due to the absence of updated data.
The decision was reportedly finalized in a high-level meeting involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat. Sources confirm that the leadership has aligned on using this data-driven approach to eliminate what they term “caste-based political manipulation”.
Currently, India’s reservation framework for OBCs is based on data from the 1931 census, the last time caste-based population figures were officially recorded. This antiquated foundation has long been criticized for being inadequate and outdated.
Since 1931:
No comprehensive caste census has been conducted.
OBC population estimates remain largely speculative.
Many castes have been included or excluded from reservation lists based on political pressures or limited local surveys.
The 2025 caste census aims to correct this by providing updated, empirical data about the social, educational, and economic status of every caste group in India.
The RSS, long viewed as opposed to caste-based classification, clarified in a recent coordination committee meeting in Palakkad that it is not against caste-based data collection—but is opposed to its politicization.
By incorporating caste enumeration into the official census process, the government intends to:
Prevent parallel surveys prone to manipulation
Gather uniform, nationwide data applicable to all religions and communities
Use caste data to make objective decisions on inclusion/exclusion from the OBC list
This approach aims to institutionalize transparency and fairness in reservation policies, rather than rely on inconsistent state-level surveys.
According to senior officials, the Union Cabinet has also agreed to make caste-based enumeration a recurring feature, starting from 2025. If implemented, this would mean:
Every decadal census (i.e., every 10 years) will include caste-wise data
The government will regularly track educational, economic, and social indicators for each caste
Real-time data will replace outdated estimations and political guesswork
Such periodic caste data could become a benchmark for updating the OBC list, identifying communities that have improved over time or require continued support.
The government’s long-term vision is to rationalize the OBC reservation system through:
Removal of castes that no longer require reservation benefits
Inclusion of newly identified socially and educationally backward groups
A review process backed by data that can withstand judicial scrutiny
If successfully implemented, the caste census could allow policymakers to:
Justify OBC list changes in Parliament
Avoid populist appeasement tactics during elections
Defend policy in courts like the Supreme Court, where current OBC classifications have often been challenged due to lack of data
Any significant restructuring of reservation policies will carry:
Political consequences, particularly in states with entrenched caste-based vote banks
Legal consequences, as the judiciary has repeatedly emphasized the need for quantifiable data in affirmative action policies
The availability of detailed caste statistics will enable:
Stronger cases for both inclusion and exclusion in reservation categories
Reduced ambiguity and favoritism
Scientific policy-making, backed by clear socio-economic data
India’s affirmative action policies have long operated in the absence of contemporary caste data. Post-1931:
The British skipped caste enumeration in 1941, citing World War II costs.
Post-independence governments, including the Nehru-led Congress, avoided caste data to discourage caste-based politics.
In 1991, OBC reservations were introduced by the Mandal Commission, relying again on 1931 data.
Despite repeated demands, especially from regional parties and social justice groups, no caste data has been part of the main census—until now.
The Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011, conducted by the UPA government, was a standalone survey that aimed to collect such data—but it was kept separate from the official census. Ultimately, it was:
Plagued by inconsistencies and duplication
Lacked public release and transparency
Criticized for errors in caste classification
This experience has led the Modi government to integrate caste data into the national census to ensure standardization and credibility.
As per internal discussions and official indications:
All religious communities will be included
Data will cover caste name, sub-caste, educational attainment, income level, employment
The process will be digitized to prevent manipulation
It will be coordinated by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India
The aim is not merely to count castes, but to build a data-driven social welfare infrastructure.
With verified caste-wise data:
Economically and educationally stronger castes may be removed from the OBC list
Neglected and underrepresented communities may be included
A new methodology may be introduced for evaluating backwardness, possibly integrating economic criteria
Such changes would realign reservation benefits with actual need, rather than historical assumptions.
This shift could:
Weaken caste-centric vote bank politics
Spark debates on creamy layer thresholds
Influence state-level reservation lists, which vary widely across regions
Redefine political narratives ahead of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections
Critics argue that this could also lead to new political demands and tensions, particularly from groups feeling threatened by possible exclusion.
The government’s decision to include caste enumeration in Census 2025 marks a turning point in India’s approach to affirmative action. With proper execution, it can:
Restructure the OBC framework
Make reservations more transparent and accountable
Reduce caste-based vote bank exploitation
It will now be critical to watch how the government:
Implements this policy
Publishes the data
Handles public, political, and judicial reactions
As India moves into a more data-conscious governance era, the caste census could either become a transformative social tool—or a fresh battleground in the complex landscape of Indian politics.
This post was published on May 5, 2025 11:31
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