Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have raised objections to the way caste names will be recorded and data will be collected in the upcoming caste census.
They have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding changes in the questions that will be asked during the census. They also said that political parties, experts and the public should be consulted before finalising the questionnaire.
The Congress leaders have particularly objected to the absence of the term “Backward Class” from the census questions. They said this could make it difficult to determine the actual population of OBC communities across the country.
They have demanded that the process followed in Telangana and Bihar be considered for recording caste data.
Wrong Data Could Affect Government Policies: 4 Key Points in the Letter
1. Different names could create confusion
If people are asked to enter the name of their caste, the same caste could be recorded under different names or sub-caste names. This could make it difficult to determine the actual number of different castes and compare the data accurately.
2. Population figures could become inaccurate
If the same caste is recorded under multiple names, its population could be undercounted or incorrectly distributed. The Congress leaders said this could affect welfare schemes and policies designed for Backward Classes, Extremely Backward Classes and other disadvantaged communities.
3. A uniform process should be followed
The identification and enumeration of castes should follow a standardised process across the country so that accurate social and economic data can be collected.
They have suggested providing a pre-defined list or drop-down menu for selecting caste names.
4. Use existing government caste lists
The caste names could be compiled using official government caste lists and data from the Anthropological Survey of India.
The Congress leaders pointed out that similar lists were used in the caste surveys conducted in Telangana and Bihar.
Census 2027 Will Have 40 Questions
On August 14, the government released the list of 40 questions that will be asked during Census 2027.
People will be asked questions related to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and other caste categories.
For the first time since Independence, caste information of all communities will be recorded as part of the population census.
The 2011 Census questionnaire had 29 questions, with caste-related information limited to the SC/ST category.
In the Census 2027 questionnaire, the caste-related question is listed as Question No. 10, where the word “caste” has been added along with SC/ST.
Interestingly, people will also be asked where they received their COVID-19 vaccination. Questions related to mobile numbers, Aadhaar, voter ID and bank accounts are also included.
India’s First Digital Census
Census 2027 will be India’s first digital census. Data will be recorded digitally, and citizens will also have the option of providing their information themselves through self-enumeration.
The census will be conducted under the Census Act, 1948 and Census Rules, 1990.
According to the Central Government, all personal information provided by citizens will remain strictly confidential.
Under Section 15 of the Census Act, census information cannot be made public, provided under the RTI Act or used as evidence in a court.
The census was originally scheduled for 2021, but it was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
₹11,718 Crore Budget Approved for Census 2027
The Central Government has approved a budget of ₹11,718.24 crore for Census 2027.
The census will be conducted across the country under the coordination of the Central Government, while state and Union Territory governments will assist in its implementation.
Chidambaram Opposes Simultaneous Elections Proposal
Meanwhile, former Union Minister P. Chidambaram on Monday opposed the proposal to hold Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously.
Appearing before the Joint Parliamentary Committee, Chidambaram described the proposal as an unconstitutional initiative.
