‘Census Will Have Caste Enumeration’: MHA Flags Misinformation After Congress Alleges ‘U-Turn’
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday responded to claims surrounding the Union government’s latest Census notification, reiterating that caste enumeration is indeed part of the upcoming population survey. The clarification comes in response to the Congress party’s sharp accusations that the government has remained silent on conducting a caste-based census.
A Ministry of Home Affairs spokesperson, quoted by news agency PTI, stated that “Caste Enumeration is a part of the upcoming Census” and pointed to three official press releases—dated 30 April, 4 June, and 15 June 2025—which, according to the ministry, clearly mention this inclusion.
The clarification follows a political row that erupted after the Centre issued its long-awaited notification for the 16th national Census. The Congress party had accused the Modi government of making a U-turn on its promise of caste enumeration, alleging that the notification made no explicit mention of it.
Congress Accuses Modi Govt of ‘U-turn’, Alleges Silence On Caste Census
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh labelled the Gazette notification a “damp squib” and said it only reiterated what had already been announced earlier. Taking to social media platform X, he stated, “The much-touted gazette notification on the 16th census to be conducted in late 2026/early 2027 has just been issued and is a damp squib.”
He further alleged that caste enumeration had been omitted despite the Centre’s earlier promise under political pressure. “Is this yet another U-turn by the ustad of U-turns?” Ramesh asked.
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury echoed the sentiment, claiming the announcement was driven by Rahul Gandhi’s sustained campaign. “It is the result of Rahul Gandhi’s tireless efforts that the Modi government had to bow down and say that they will do the census and will do the caste census,” he said.
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav dismissed the Congress’s claims, saying the BJP had always stood for social equity, citing the reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) as an example.
He accused the Congress of using the issue of caste census merely as political theatre. “Congress MP & LoP Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, calls Karnataka an ideal state — but the timing and internal contradictions of their stance show that social justice is merely a showpiece for Congress, not a genuine commitment,” Yadav said.
The gazette notification states that the next Census will have a reference date of 1 March 2027 for most states, and 1 October 2026 for snowbound regions including Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
Amid the MHA’s clarification, the Congress continues to demand more transparency and a concrete roadmap, urging the Centre to follow the model adopted by states like Telangana and Bihar, which have already conducted caste-based socio-economic surveys.
Jairam Ramesh stressed that the Union government must act in the spirit of constitutional responsibility and ensure the data is publicly available, stating that the ball is now squarely in the Centre’s court.
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