Overview
- The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has approved the inclusion of caste enumeration in the upcoming national census, a first since 1931 for comprehensive caste data.
- Union ministers describe the move as a commitment to social equality, while opposition parties claim credit for advocating the caste census for decades.
- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and others demand a clear timeline, budget, and transparency for the exercise, criticizing the lack of immediate implementation details.
- Analysts interpret the decision as a strategic move by the BJP ahead of critical state elections, particularly in caste-sensitive regions like Bihar.
- Updated caste data is expected to influence reservation policies, welfare schemes, and constituency delimitation, reshaping India’s socio-political landscape.