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Modi Government Announces All-India Caste Census | A Brief History And Why Now

The announcement on caste census comes ahead of key state elections in Bihar, where caste plays a major political role.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw briefs the media on cabinet decisions, in New Delhi, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (PTI Photo/Vijay Varma)

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.

Vaishnaw said in 2010, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured the Lok Sabha that the matter of caste census should be considered in the Cabinet. A group of ministers was formed to consider this after most of the political parties had recommended a caste census.
“Despite this, the Congress government decided to conduct only a survey instead of a caste census. That survey is known as SECC. “It is well understood that the Congress and its INDI alliance partners have used Caste Census only as a political tool,” the minister alleged.

When Was the Last Caste Census Held?

The first caste enumeration in independent India took place in 2011 as part of the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC).
During British rule, caste data was regularly collected in decennial censuses from 1881 to 1931. However, after independence, the Indian government chose not to include caste in the census beginning in 1951, except for data related to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

What is a Caste Census?

A caste census is a data-gathering exercise that records information about the different caste groups in a population. Its main purpose is to assess the social, economic, and demographic status of these groups to help guide policy and welfare planning.

Announcement Ahead of Bihar Elections

Notably, the announcement comes ahead of the Bihar elections which is scheduled later this year.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and other allies also welcomed the move, saying it would help formulate targeted policies for development. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan said it is an important decision in national interest, saying that his party had long called for it. The decision will be a big step in the country’s equitable development, the Union minister said, adding that caste census will help “make more just and focussed policies”.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi welcomed the announcement but called it a “sudden” turnaround after 11 years of BJP opposition to the idea. He demanded a clear timeline for its implementation. “We support this fully but want to know when it will be done,” he said.

Why Caste Census Matters Now?

Beyond being a statistical exercise, the caste census carries significant social and political weight.
Activists argue that the data can be instrumental in reshaping affirmative action policies, enhancing representation, and tackling deep-rooted social inequalities.
“Access to key services in India—such as education, healthcare, nutrition, and social protection—is often influenced by longstanding caste, regional, religious, and economic disparities. A caste census is essential to expose these intersecting inequalities and to create policies that are truly fair and inclusive,” said Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India, speaking to PTI.
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