Caste Data to be Collected in National Census: Government Takes Step Toward Social Realignment

In a bold and unprecedented move, the Government of India has decided to include caste-based data in its next national census. The decision has reignited national conversations about inequality, identity, and representation—while offering a path forward based on evidence and inclusion.

For a nation grappling with historical inequalities, this move is being hailed as a way to realign public policies to present-day realities.

What Prompted the Decision?

The Cabinet’s decision comes amid years of political pressure, legal debates, and social demand. Recent caste-based surveys conducted by Bihar and proposed in states like Odisha, Maharashtra, and Karnataka highlighted a growing consensus: without current caste data, development planning is incomplete.

The lack of caste data has made it hard to:

• Justify or expand affirmative action quotas.
• Evaluate the impact of poverty alleviation schemes.
• Understand regional disparities within caste groups.

With social justice gaining traction in India’s public discourse, the Centre could no longer afford to delay.

How the Data Will Be Collected

The census, overseen by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, will involve:

• Digital Enumeration using tablets and handheld devices.
• Biometric Tagging for voluntary verification and to avoid duplication.
• Linkage to Socio-Economic Data already being collected under various ministries.
• Advanced Classification Tools to sort through thousands of caste names, sub-castes, and overlapping communities.

Integration with Policy

Once available, caste data will be integrated into government planning documents, such as:

• Union and State Budgets.
• Five-Year Development Plans.
• Local-level administrative schemes.
• Public sector hiring and education admissions frameworks.

It is expected that ministries such as Rural Development, Education, and Social Justice will benefit most.

Debate and Discourse

The move has sparked wide-ranging debates:

Advocates argue:

• It will uncover structural inequality.
• It allows for more nuanced policymaking.
• It validates the lived experiences of marginalized communities.

Skeptics caution:

• It may deepen social fragmentation.
• The caste system could get institutional legitimacy.
• Political manipulation of data is a real risk.

To navigate these concerns, the Centre is consulting ethicists, legal experts, and civil society organizations to develop a Caste Census Code of Conduct.

Educational and Research Implications

The caste census could usher in a new age of Indian sociology. Universities and think tanks have long struggled with incomplete caste data, relying on fieldwork and surveys.

With robust caste data, India could:

• Develop targeted pedagogy.
• Advance anti-discrimination curricula.
• Create interdisciplinary research programs on caste, economics, and public health.

Learning from Global Models

India’s caste enumeration is not an isolated experiment. Other countries collect similar data for equality initiatives:

• Brazil captures race and ethnicity data to combat racial discrimination.
• South Africa tracks ethnic identities for post-apartheid reforms.
• New Zealand includes ethnic groups and indigenous affiliations for better policy planning.

India’s approach could become a model for large, diverse democracies aiming to correct historic injustices.

Final Thoughts

The Cabinet’s decision to incorporate caste into the 2026 Census is historic. It signals an intent to govern with data, transparency, and inclusion. More than a technical exercise, this is a moral and constitutional commitment to ensure every community’s reality is visible in the national record.

If handled with integrity, this caste census could help India transition from symbolic to substantive equality.