The Congress party has alleged that the Modi government is deliberately undermining the upcoming caste census by ignoring its own previous recommendations to the Supreme Court.

  • Congress claims PM Modi is intentionally sabotaging the caste census process.
  • Jairam Ramesh highlighted the absence of a 'drop-down menu' for caste selection in the 2027 Census.
  • The party alleges a pattern of contradictory stances (U-turns) by the Prime Minister on social counting.

In a scathing attack on the central government, the Congress party on Tuesday alleged that the administration led by Narendra Modi is actively working to sabotage the caste census. During a press conference at the party headquarters in New Delhi, Congress General Secretary (In-Charge Communications) Jairam Ramesh questioned why the 2027 census lacks a drop-down menu for caste selection, a feature the government itself had advocated for in a legal filing years prior.

Referring to a crucial affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on September 21, 2021, Mr. Ramesh pointed out that while the government had rejected the plea for a caste census, it admitted in paragraph 12(d) that a 'drop-down menu' for selecting castes would have been ideal to ensure consistent and reliable data. He argued that the failure to implement this in the upcoming 2027 Census proves the government's lack of sincerity.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the methodology of data collection is as important as the data itself. By omitting a structured drop-down menu, the government risks collecting fragmented or inconsistent data, which can be used to dismiss the findings as 'unreliable.' This technical omission serves as a strategic tool to avoid the political fallout of revealing actual caste proportions in the population.

The battle over the caste census is not just about numbers; it is a battle for the soul of India's reservation policy and future electoral arithmetic.

The Congress party further noted that states like Bihar and Telangana successfully utilized such menus during their respective caste surveys. Mr. Ramesh highlighted that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had specifically urged the Prime Minister to adopt this method in a letter dated May 5, 2025. The opposition claims that the PM's journey on this issue—from calling it an 'urban naxal' idea to promising it on April 30, 2025, and now quietly burying it—justifies the label of 'U-turn ustad'.

Timeline Government Action/Stance Congress Allegation
Sept 2021 Rejected Caste Census in SC Contradictory legal filings
April 2025 Announced Caste Census Tactical 'U-turn' for votes
August 2026 Planning Census 2027 Intentional sabotage of data
Did You Know?: The last comprehensive caste-based census in India was conducted way back in 1931, making the current demand a decades-long socio-political struggle.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the significance of the 'drop-down menu' in the census?
It ensures that respondents choose from a standardized list of castes, preventing spelling errors and inconsistent entries that make data analysis difficult.

2. Why did Congress call the PM a 'U-turn ustad'?
Because they claim he has repeatedly changed his position on the caste census to suit political convenience.