New Delhi: Congress leader Jayaram Ramesh has raised concerns over the Modi government’s intentions regarding the upcoming census. Posting on social media platform ‘X’, he pointed out that the notification issued on January 22 lists 33 questions for the house-listing and housing census, the first phase of Census 2027 scheduled from April to September 2026. This phase will collect data on housing materials, usage, ownership, drinking water, sanitation, lighting, fuel, internet, mobile phones, vehicles, and staple grains.
Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases. The initial phase involves house-listing and housing data collection, while the population enumeration will take place in September 2026 in the snowbound regions of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Ladakh, and Jammu & Kashmir, and in February 2027 across the rest of the country. Jayaram Ramesh recalled that on April 30, 2025, the government made a sudden U-turn by announcing the inclusion of caste enumeration in Census 2027. Later, on December 12, 2025, it was clarified that caste data would be collected in the second phase. Previously, the government had consistently opposed caste enumeration, as seen in affidavits submitted to the Lok Sabha on July 20, 2021, and the Supreme Court on September 21, 2021. Even as recently as April 28, 2024, the Prime Minister had labelled advocates of caste census as having an ‘urban Naxal mentality’ during a TV interview. Ramesh remarked that the government finally yielded to widespread demand, which Congress had persistently championed.
However, the latest notification’s Question 12 asks whether the head of the household belongs to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, or ‘Other’ categories, notably omitting any specific mention of OBCs or the general category. Jayaram Ramesh questioned the government’s true intent, arguing that if caste enumeration is to be included, the questions should reflect a comprehensive and impartial approach. He expressed skepticism about the government’s commitment to an inclusive caste census based on the current questionnaire design.
Congress has urged the government to initiate immediate consultations with all political parties, state governments, and civil society organisations before finalising the caste enumeration details. Ramesh cited Telangana’s 2025 speech survey as a model, which gathered extensive caste-wise data on education, employment, income, and political participation. He stated that this methodology offers the broadest and most accurate approach to achieving social and economic justice.
The notification was issued under Section 8 of the Census Act, 1948, by the office of the Registrar General of India, replacing the 2020 notification. Congress maintains that the government’s commitment to caste enumeration remains doubtful, emphasizing the need for stakeholder consultation to ensure a transparent and fair process.
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