The long-awaited processes for the census and caste tally are on the brink of commencement. Sources indicate that while caste counting will occur, class will not be included. This implies there will be no report on the number of OBCs (Other Backward Classes) in the country post-census. One reason is that OBC communities vary between states.
Moreover, people must document their caste alongside their religion. The government has no criteria to cross-verify wrong caste entries. Reservation privileges are solely granted based on caste certificates.
The Supreme Court will decide on the 50% reservation limit case, without government intervention. This census won't impact delimitation, which might occur in 2026 based on the 2011 census. Although typically taking five years, this census will take only three due to its digital nature.
When will the caste census happen?
According to sources, the process will officially kick off with a notification on June 16, 2025, under the Census Act, 1948. Various agencies involved with the census will then become active. Initial activities will involve staff appointments, training, census format preparation, and fieldwork planning. Notably, this time the census and caste counting will happen simultaneously.
The process is set to split into two phases. The first phase should complete by February 1, 2027, and the concluding phase by the end of February 2027. The reference date is midnight on March 1, 2027, meaning the population and social status data recorded then will become official. Data will start being publicly available after this day, marking a historic move to better understand the country's social structure and provide a solid foundation for policy decisions.
Meanwhile, in states with challenging geographical conditions like Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Uttarakhand, the census process will finish by October 2026, considering their unique climates and terrains.
Cabinet committee approves caste-based data collection
In April, a pivotal announcement by Central Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw laid the groundwork for this significant decision. He shared that the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has approved including caste data in the upcoming census.
He stated, “The Cabinet committee has decided to incorporate caste data in the forthcoming census. This decision is a substantial step toward social and economic empowerment and broader national progress.” He also assured that the census would be conducted with transparency.
