Modi Government To Conduct Caste Census: Union Minister Ashiwini Vaishnaw

Union Minister Ashiwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday confirmed that the Modi government will conduct a caste census in India. The big announcement came soon after the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs meeting, where it was decided that caste census will take place in the coming days.

Opposition, including Congress, RJD and SP, have been targeting the Government over demand to conduct a caste census. The big decision came months before the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, a state where caste-based politics is being done on a large scale.

Union Minister Ashiwini Vaishnaw said, "Congress govts have always opposed the caste census. In 2010, the late Dr Manmohan Singh said that the matter of caste census should be considered in the Cabinet. A group of ministers was formed to consider this subject. Most of the political parties have recommended a caste census. Despite this, the Congress government decided to conduct a survey of caste or a caste census. It is well understood that Congress and its INDI alliance partners have used the caste census only as a political tool. Some states have conducted surveys to enumerate castes. While some states have done this well, some others conducted such surveys only from a political angle in a non-transparent way. Such surveys created doubts in society. To ensure that our social fabric is not disturbed by politics, caste enumeration should be included in the census instead of surveys...."

The caste census in India will take place almost after 94 years.

"Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has decided today that Caste enumeration should be included in the forthcoming census," said Union Minister added.