Last Updated:April 30, 2025, 18:47 IST

Following the announcement, political parties and leaders from across the political spectrum welcomed the government’s decision

Centre announced that caste enumeration would be included in the upcoming census, which is expected to begin early next year. (Reuters file photo)

The central government on Wednesday announced that caste enumeration would be included in the upcoming census, which is expected to begin early next year, and will be conducted in a “transparent” manner.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while outlining the decisions made by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), stated that although the census is a central responsibility, some states have already carried out caste enumeration under the guise of surveys, alleging it was done for political reasons.

Following the announcement, political parties and leaders from across the political spectrum welcomed the government’s decision. Many took to the social media platform X to share their thoughts on the move.

In a post on X, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar commended the government’s decision to conduct a caste census.

“Our demand for conducting a caste census is an old one. It is a matter of great joy that the Central Government has decided to conduct a caste census. Conducting a caste census will help determine the population of different sections, which will facilitate the formulation of plans for their upliftment and development. This will accelerate the country’s development. Congratulations and thanks to the Honorable Prime Minister, Respected Shri Narendra Modi ji, for the decision to conduct a caste census,” Kumar wrote.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah wrote: “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, in today’s CCPA meeting, the decision to include caste-based enumeration in the upcoming census has been made, sending a strong message of commitment to social equality and the rights of every section.”

Shah further added: “The Congress and its allied parties, while in power for decades, opposed caste-based census and politicized it while in opposition. This decision will empower all economically and socially backward sections, promote inclusion, and pave new paths for the progress of the deprived.”

BJP national president JP Nadda shared: “This decision is extremely significant in bringing backward castes into the mainstream at the economic, social, and educational levels, and in restoring dignity to those who have long been deprived of their rights and entitlements.”

“This unprecedented decision by the Modi government will serve as a milestone in expanding social harmony, uplifting every section of society, and enhancing the dignity of the backward classes. I express my gratitude to Modi ji for this historic decision aimed at the welfare of all sections of society,” Nadda added.

Union Minister and BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan wrote: “This is a positive step towards placing the deprived and backward communities at the center of policymaking, connecting all sections of society, addressing social, educational, and economic inequalities in a transparent and authentic manner, and ensuring appropriate rights for all sections.”

“For the past 11 years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi ji, a holistic and inclusive government has been working with the resolve of *Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas* (Together with all, Development for all), in line with the core spirit of the Constitution. Today’s decision will prove to be significant in strengthening the concept of *Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas* and social justice,” Pradhan stated.

Union Sports Minister and BJP leader Mansukh Mandaviya remarked: “For the upliftment of the country’s backward classes, Prime Minister Shri @NarendraModi ji has decided to include caste enumeration in the census, for which I express heartfelt gratitude. No caste enumeration was conducted in any of the censuses after independence. The opposition only played politics on this issue, but Modi ji has always worked for the deprived sections, and this decision is a reflection of that.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar in a lengthy post wrote: “For the historic and extremely significant decision to conduct a caste-based census in the direction of establishing social equality in the country, heartfelt gratitude to the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the Honorable Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah ji, and the entire Union Cabinet!”

“For many decades, numerous individuals, organizations, and groups have consistently demanded a caste-based census. This demand has been fulfilled due to the visionary and sensitive leadership of the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the Honorable Home Minister Shri Amit Shah. In the absence of a caste-based census, clear information about the economic and social conditions of the population of castes other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was not available. As a result, the OBC community, along with other sections of society, had to bear the consequences,” Pawar added.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena Eknath Shinde wrote: “The caste-based census will separate ‘milk from milk, water from water,’ and it will become clear exactly which threads have woven the fabric of this nation. Such decisions require courage. But Modiji, unmindful of elections, voting, or the like, has unleashed a series of tough decisions for social justice. Following Article 370, Nari Shakti Vandan, and the Waqf Board Amendment Act, the decision for a caste census has been made today.”

Speaking to the media, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya stated: “Only PM Modi-led government could have taken this decision; I welcome it…This decision proves that the BJP performs and delivers.”

Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor said, “We have no issue with any such census or survey that gives a better understanding of society, but we have seen it in Bihar that merely caste surveys will not improve the situation in the country, but only if the government works based on the findings that come out of surveys.”

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote: “This statement regarding social justice was made in the recent resolution of the Congress, which was passed in Ahmedabad(On April 9, 2025. Better late than never.”

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi wrote: “The Centre has agreed to include caste data in the upcoming census exercise. This was needed urgently & it was a long-pending demand of many groups. I’d also made the same demand since 2021.”

“It’s for BJP to be intellectually honest. The data must be collected transparently & put in the public domain. Policies of the govt must be consistent with the census data. The most backward communities should get their fair share in education & employment,” Owaisi added.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav wrote: “The decision for a caste census is a 100% victory for the 90% unity of the PDA. Due to our collective pressure, the BJP government was compelled to take this decision.”

“This is a warning to the BJP government to keep its electoral manipulations away from the caste census. Only an honest census will ensure that every caste receives its rightful share and rights proportional to its population, which until now the supremacists had arrogantly controlled,” Yadav added.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader remarked: “To divert attention, Modi ji is talking about conducting a “caste census.” AAP is in favor of a caste census, but it should not be shelved like the women’s reservation.”

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav stated: “This has been our demand for the last thirty years. It was first raised by Lalu ji and our predecessors, as well as socialist leaders. Bihar was the first state to conduct a caste census when the Mahagathbandhan government was in power, and I was the Deputy Chief Minister. We also increased the reservation limit. We had also met the Prime Minister to request a national census, but it was rejected in Parliament. Today, this is our victory.”

While, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha commented, “Today’s victory is ‘Bahujan’ population’s victory. The government had to bow down and accept caste census. Former Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav took this idea forward and did a caste census with his own resources in Bihar. Caste census will benefit the backward and Dalit communities greatly.”