The announcement on caste census comes ahead of key state elections in Bihar, where caste plays a major political role.
In a major shift, the Centre on Wednesday announced that caste enumeration will be included in the upcoming population census for the first time since independence.
The decision, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was hailed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies as a “historic” step toward social equity. The move comes ahead of key state elections in Bihar, where caste plays a major political role.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, announcing the decision at a press conference, said the inclusion of caste data will be done in a transparent manner. He criticised opposition-led state governments for conducting similar surveys “non-transparently,” which he claimed created social doubt.
“This decision reflects our commitment to social justice and equitable development,” Vaishnaw said, adding that earlier Congress governments had avoided including caste in past censuses.
