Centre Approves Caste-Based Census To Ensure Inclusive Policy Making

In a momentous development, the Indian government has decided to incorporate caste-based enumeration in the forthcoming national census.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a special high-level meeting on 30 April 2025, popularly referred to as a ‘Super Cabinet’, where the government took the decision.

Consequently, observers widely recognise the move as a pivotal step toward generating accurate data to formulate inclusive and equitable policies.

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), comprising some of the government’s most senior ministers, approved the measure unanimously.

A Historic Decision

This will be only the second instance of a caste-based census post-Independence.

The first, in 2011, was a Social Economic and Caste Census (SECC) and did not capture a complete caste breakdown.

This time, the government intends to formally document caste demographics as part of the official population count.

PM Modi emphasised that this data would aid in understanding the social reality of India and ensuring that every section of society receives due attention in policymaking.

Strengthening The Social Fabric

The Prime Minister described the caste census as a cornerstone for national development and emphasised that it would foster social harmony by ensuring the inclusion of marginalised groups in the country’s growth story.

Government officials noted that accurate and disaggregated data would strengthen targeted welfare initiatives, enabling real-time progress tracking.

Learning From State-Level Surveys

Several Indian states, including Bihar and Odisha, have conducted their own caste surveys.

However, concerns about inconsistencies, political interference, and transparency gaps have marred their credibility.

The central government announced its plan to conduct a fair, impartial, and transparent caste census at the national level, with the Registrar General of India overseeing the process.

Towards Policy Based On Data, Not Assumptions

In a strong policy assertion, the Centre stated that a caste census is essential for bringing about a transformative shift in how social and economic policies are framed.

With reliable data, the government can allocate resources more effectively, draft affirmative action policies grounded in evidence, and promote equal opportunity across communities.

The inclusion of caste data in the census is expected to contribute significantly to reshaping India’s social justice framework.

Analysts anticipate that it will guide the formulation of future welfare schemes, job reservations, and educational support policies.

Above all, it marks a conscious step by the Modi government to address deep-rooted social disparities through a data-backed, apolitical, and inclusive approach.

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