Rahul Gandhi Demands Timeline for Caste Census Implementation
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has welcomed the government’s decision to incorporate caste-based data collection in the national census but called for a definitive timeline and clarity on its implementation. His remarks came amid renewed national debate on the need for accurate caste data to ensure equitable policy-making and targeted welfare.
“We support this decision completely but we want a timeline. We want to know by when it will be done,” said Gandhi, asserting that intent alone is not enough. He urged the government to commit to a schedule and ensure the process is transparent and inclusive. He further emphasized that Telangana had already shown how such an exercise could be executed effectively.
Calling for a shift in approach, Gandhi stated, “We want people’s census, not bureaucrats’ census.” His comments underline concerns that a top-down exercise could miss ground realities and underrepresent marginalized communities.
Gandhi also reiterated the Congress party’s longstanding demand to remove the 50% ceiling on caste-based reservations, which has been a point of contention in affirmative action policies across the country. He suggested that without updated data on the actual socio-economic makeup of India’s population, it is impossible to design fair policies or address caste inequalities meaningfully.
Caste Census in India
The inclusion of caste enumeration in the national census represents a major shift from the government’s previous stance, which had long resisted such moves. It follows years of pressure from opposition parties and state governments, many of which have undertaken their own caste surveys—such as in Bihar, Karnataka, and Telangana—to address local demands for data-driven social welfare distribution.
Push for Social Justice
Rahul Gandhi’s demand places political pressure on the government to not only announce but also act upon its commitment to caste data collection. With caste playing a crucial role in Indian politics, the census is viewed by many as a key step toward achieving more accurate representation and dismantling systemic inequalities in governance and resource allocation.
As discussions continue, the timeline for implementation will likely become a focal point in the broader debate over reservations, equity, and caste justice in India.
