New Delhi: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday welcomed the Union Cabinet’s decision to include caste census in the upcoming national census. Calling it a “first step” towards a broader agenda of social justice, Gandhi also reiterated his party’s longstanding demand to scrap the 50 per cent cap on reservations. He also urged the government to announce a clear timeline and allocate adequate funds to ensure a transparent and effective exercise.
Addressing a press conference, Gandhi said, “We completely support the caste census decision, but we want a timeline. By when will it be done? This is the first step towards a new development paradigm. Telangana has emerged as a model in conducting caste census, and it can serve as a blueprint for the Centre. We are ready to help the government design this process.”
Congress’s consistent advocacy on the issue
He also highlighted the Congress’s consistent advocacy on the issue, “We had said in Parliament that we will make caste census happen. We also committed to scrapping the 50 per cent cap — the artificial wall in place. Narendra Modi used to say there are just four castes — the poor, youth, women, and farmers. We don’t know what changed, but suddenly after 11 years, the caste census has been announced. It is because of sustained public and political pressure.”
Gandhi also emphasised that caste census should not be confined to data collection alone but should open pathways for larger social and economic reforms. “Not just reservations, we are also asking central questions — be it OBCs, Dalits, Adivasis — what is their participation in this country? Through caste census, this will be found. But we have to go beyond caste census and take concrete action based on its findings,” he added.
He also reiterated the Congress party’s demand for the implementation of Article 15(5), which provides for reservation in private educational institutions. “This is already law. We want the NDA-BJP government to begin implementing it without further delay,” he said.
‘Budget allocation is necessary’
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge echoed similar sentiments, stressing that “budget allocation is necessary” to initiate the caste census with “complete transparency”. Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly avoiding the implementation of policies of social justice while accusing the opposition of dividing society, Kharge said, “The Congress demands allocation of funds for starting caste census work with full transparency. Participatory justice is not possible without such an exercise.”
The Centre’s decision — announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw — comes against the backdrop of increasing political pressure from opposition parties and ahead of crucial assembly elections in Bihar, a state where caste dynamics deeply influence electoral outcomes. Vaishnaw noted that some states had previously conducted caste enumerations through surveys in a “non-transparent” manner, which had created doubts in society. He underlined that the census falls under the Centre’s purview and would now be conducted as part of the upcoming decennial census.
