New Delhi – Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi have formally written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging his government to withdraw the existing questionnaire for the proposed nationwide caste census. The leaders, in their joint letter, advocated for a comprehensive enumeration process to accurately collect caste data across India, emphasizing its importance for social justice and evidence-based policy formulation.

The communication, submitted recently, underscores the Congress party's long-standing demand for a detailed caste-based census. The party argues that the current questionnaire appears inadequate for achieving an accurate and comprehensive count of various castes, particularly Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Congress contends that such data is essential for designing effective welfare schemes and ensuring equitable resource distribution tailored to the specific needs of different communities.

The letter highlights perceived deficiencies within the present questionnaire, suggesting it may not facilitate a thorough enumeration of caste identities. According to the Congress leaders, an accurate count is fundamental to understanding the socio-economic status of different caste groups, which is then crucial for implementing affirmative action policies and reservation frameworks more effectively. They pointed out that the last comprehensive caste data collected and published was during the 1931 census, meaning current estimates often rely on significantly outdated information.

Key points raised in the letter include:

  • Demand for a New Questionnaire: A specific request for the government to design and implement a revised questionnaire explicitly tailored to collect precise and exhaustive caste data.
  • Comprehensive Enumeration: Stressing the necessity for a thorough collection of information on all castes and sub-castes, moving beyond mere socio-economic indicators.
  • Policy Implications: Highlighting that updated and accurate caste data is critical for evidence-based policymaking, especially concerning reservation policies in education and employment.
  • Inclusion of OBCs: Emphasizing that OBCs form a significant demographic segment of the population and their accurate enumeration is vital for addressing their socio-economic backwardness and ensuring their rightful representation.
  • Government's Constitutional Role: Urging the central government to take a proactive and lead role in conducting this exercise, citing its constitutional mandate for national census operations.

This move by the Congress party places renewed focus on the contentious issue of a nationwide caste census, a demand supported by several regional political parties and social organizations across India. Proponents argue that updated and granular caste data is crucial for ensuring that policies aimed at uplifting disadvantaged sections of society are appropriately targeted and reflective of contemporary demographic realities. While the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) conducted in 2011 collected some caste-related information, its caste data component was not fully released or officially used for enumeration purposes, with the government citing methodological and reliability concerns.

The government has yet to issue an official public response to the letter from the Congress leaders. This development is expected to further intensify political debate on the scope and methodology of any future census operations in India, particularly concerning the inclusion of caste as a primary data point. The decision on withdrawing or modifying the existing questionnaire, and proceeding with a comprehensive caste census, remains a significant political and administrative challenge with far-reaching implications for India's social, economic, and political landscape.