Caste enumeration to be part of next Census: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw briefs media on decisions by the Union Cabinet on April 30, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Wednesday (April 30, 2025), said that the Union Cabinet has decided to include caste enumeration as part of the next census. He was briefing the media regarding decisions of the Union Cabinet.

“Under the leadership of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs has decided today (April 30, 2025) that caste enumeration should be included in the forthcoming Census. This demonstrates that our government is committed to the values and interests of our society and the country, like in the past, when our government had introduced 10% reservations for economically weaker sections of society.””

EXPLAINED | The case for caste census in India

He also hit out at the Congress and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties for using the caste census as a political tool.

“Congress governments have always opposed caste census. Caste was not included in all the census operations conducted since Independence. In 2010, then Prime Minister late Manmohan Singh ji 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 subject. Most of the political parties had recommended caste census. Despite this, Congress government decided to conduct merely a survey of caste instead of a caste census. That survey is known as SECC.,” Mr. Vaishnaw said.

EXPLAINED | Is the caste Census a useful exercise?

“It is well understood that Congress and its INDI Alliance partners have used caste census only as a political tool. As per Article 246 of the Constitution of India, the subject Census is listed at 69 in the Union list in the Seventh Schedule. According to Constitution of India, Census is a Union subject. Some States have conducted surveys to enumerate caste, some States have done this while some others have conducted such surveys purely from a political angle in a non-transparent way,” he added.

“Such surveys have created doubts in the society. Considering all these facts, and to ensure that our social fabric is not disturbed by politics, caste enumeration should be transparently included in the Census instead of surveys. This will strengthen the social and economic structure of our society, while the nation continues to progress,” he added.

Also Read | Centre debates taking caste count during Census

Among other decisions, Mr. Vaishnaw said that the Cabinet has also approved the 166.8-kilometre long Shillong–Silchar four lane corridor highway, connecting Meghalaya and Assam with an outlay of ₹22,864 crore.

“This highway will provide connectivity to people of Manipur and Mizoram, this project will be considered under hybrid mode,” he said.