Kharge Urges PM Modi to Implement Caste Census: Seeks End to 50% Reservation Cap, Calls for Telangana Model

KKN Gurugram Desk | In a sharp and policy-heavy intervention, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has written a detailed letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding the implementation of a nationwide caste-based census, the removal of the 50% cap on reservation, and the adoption of the Telangana model for caste data collection. Kharge’s letter, dated May 5, was shared publicly by Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, triggering political ripples amid ongoing national debates on social justice and empowerment.

Kharge’s Three Demands to the Prime Minister

In the letter, Kharge outlines three critical steps for advancing the agenda of equity and empowerment:

1. Include caste enumeration in the upcoming national census, originally scheduled for 2021.

2. Remove the 50% cap on caste-based reservations through a constitutional amendment.

3. Use the Telangana model to frame caste-related questions and publish all collected data transparently.

He emphasizes that the exercise should not be perceived as divisive, but rather as a means to achieve constitutional equality and measure socio-economic progress across castes.

 Previous Communications and PM’s Silence

Kharge reminded the Prime Minister that he had written a previous letter on April 16, 2023, advocating for a caste census. That letter went unanswered.

“You and your party have often criticized Congress for raising this issue. But now you have publicly acknowledged that caste enumeration is in the interest of social justice. Isn’t this a vindication of our long-standing stand?” Kharge wrote.

Kharge accused the Modi government of deliberately shelving the 2015 caste census report. He referred to a committee formed under the NITI Aayog Vice-Chairperson on July 16, 2015, which he said was never allowed to function effectively.

 Telangana Caste Survey Model: A Blueprint for the Nation

Kharge urged the Union government to take cues from the Telangana caste survey, which was executed under the Congress government in the state. He explained that questionnaire design is vital to ensure comprehensive socio-economic data collection, and that caste data should not merely be used for headcounts but for policy formulation.

He recommended that:

• The Ministry of Home Affairs incorporate caste as a formal category in the upcoming census.

• The final report should be made public, with no data withheld, ensuring transparency and accountability.

• Socio-economic indicators must be used to track progress from one census to the next.

Constitutional and Legal Backing for Reservation Beyond 50%

Kharge argues that arbitrary enforcement of a 50% reservation limit is unconstitutional and must be scrapped through amendment.

He invoked Article 15(5) of the Constitution, which permits reservations in private unaided educational institutions for SCs, STs, and OBCs. While this provision was introduced via the 93rd Constitutional Amendment in 2006, it was challenged in the Supreme Court.

In January 2014, just before the general elections, the apex court upheld the amendment, solidifying its constitutional validity. Kharge insists this ruling should serve as a basis for expanding reservation quotas where required.

 Parliamentary Committee Endorses New Law for Reservation in Private Institutions

Kharge cited a report published on March 25 this year by a Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Education. The committee, in its 364th report, recommended a new law to implement Article 15(5) in letter and spirit, particularly in private higher education institutions.

He highlighted that even constitutional provisions are often not implemented adequately, and that legislation must be followed by effective execution and public oversight.

 Congress Slams PM Modi’s “Sudden and Desperate” U-Turn

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, while sharing Kharge’s letter on social media platform X, criticized Prime Minister Modi for taking a sudden and opportunistic U-turn on caste enumeration.

“The country is still reeling from the horror of the Pahalgam terror attack, and in the middle of that national tragedy, the Prime Minister chose to make an abrupt announcement on caste census. This is both insensitive and politically desperate,” Ramesh tweeted.

Ramesh said the letter was a follow-up to the Congress Working Committee meeting held on May 2, during which caste census and social equity were core topics.

 Why Caste Census Matters: Beyond Numbers

Kharge argues that caste data is essential for:

• Measuring access to education, employment, and social mobility

• Determining gaps in implementation of welfare schemes

• Creating data-backed policies rather than relying on outdated estimates

• Ensuring that underprivileged communities receive constitutionally guaranteed rights

He asserts that socio-economic justice is not achievable without evidence-based governance, and that caste enumeration is the first step toward this goal.

The 2011 SECC vs. Comprehensive Caste Census

Kharge also contrasted the 2011 Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) with the proposed caste census. While the SECC collected limited data, it was never released in full and lacked credibility due to inconsistent methodology.

The new census, he argues, must include:

• Clear caste categorization

• Household economic indicators

• Educational attainment levels

• Access to welfare schemes

He insists that data confidentiality must not be used as an excuse to withhold crucial caste-related findings from the public.

 Legal Precedents and Supreme Court Rulings Support Expanded Reservation

Kharge cited several key Supreme Court rulings that allow for expanding reservation quotas beyond the 50% limit, especially in the context of social and educational backwardness. He noted:

• The Indra Sawhney judgment (1992) laid the 50% cap but allowed exceptions under extraordinary circumstances.

• Subsequent rulings have permitted state-specific deviations, such as Tamil Nadu, where reservation exceeds 69%, safeguarded under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.

Kharge suggested that all state-level reservation policies exceeding 50% should be brought under the Ninth Schedule to prevent judicial interference.

 A Political Turning Point in India’s Social Justice Narrative

With general elections approaching and caste representation emerging as a critical issue, the demand for a caste-based census is likely to become a defining political theme.

While the Modi government has hinted at including caste in the upcoming census, the lack of clarity, absence of transparent guidelines, and delays since 2021 have raised concerns.

Congress sees this as an opportunity to reclaim the narrative of social justice, while the BJP is likely to tread cautiously to avoid alienating upper-caste voter bases.

Kharge’s letter puts the ball firmly in the government’s court. His demands are not new, but they have gained renewed relevance in a country where caste remains a determinant of opportunity and access.

Whether the Modi government acts on these recommendations or uses them for political signaling remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that social justice in India cannot progress without transparent caste data, institutional accountability, and policy reforms rooted in equity.