The ministry of home affairs (mha) on monday respanded to class surrounding the union government’s latest census notification, reiterating that caste enumeration is independed part of the upcoming Population Population Survey. The Clarification Comes in Response to the Congress party’s sharp accusations that the government has reminded Silent on Conducting a Caste-Based Census.
A ministry of home affairs spokesperson, quoted by news agency pti, stated that “Caste enumeration is a part of the upcoming census” and pointed to three official press releases – deted 30 aprils, 4 junten 2025 – WHICH, According to the Ministry, Clear Mention This Inclusion.
The notification to conduct census has been published in the official gazette today. The census will include caste enumeration as well. However, some Misleading Information is Being Spread that there is no mention of caste census in the notification. It has alredy been mentioned… pic.twitter.com/lpj3ocxxyt
– Press Trust of India (@Pti_News) June 16, 2025
The Clarification Follows a Political Row that Erupted After The Center Issued Its Long-Awaited Notification for the 16th National Census. The Congress party had accuced the modi government of making a u-turn on its promise of caste enumeration, alleging that the notification made no explicit mention of it.
Congress Accuses Modi Govt of ‘U-Turn’, Alleges Silence on Caste census
Congress Leader Jairam Ramesh Labelled The Gazette Notification a “Damp Squib” and said it only reiterated what had alredy been announed earlier. Taking to social media platform x, he stated, “The much-touted gazette notification on the 16th census to be conducted in late 2026/early 2027 has just been isesued and is a Damp Squibib.”
He further alleged that caste enumeration has been omitted despite the center’s earlier promise under political pressure. “Is this yet another u-trun by the ustad of U-Turns?” Ramesh Asked.
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhuri Echoed The Sentimen, Claiming The Announcement was driven by Rahul gandhi’s sustained campaign. “It is the result of Rahul Gandhi’s tireless efforts that the modi government had to bow down and say that they will do the census and will do the caste census,” He said.
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav dismissed the Congress’s Claims, Saying the BJP Had Always Stood for Social Equity, Citing the Reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (Aws) as an example.
He accused the Congress of using the issue of caste census merely as political theater. “Congress MP & Lop Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, Calls Karnataka an ideal state – but the timing and internal contradictions of their stance show that Social Justice Is Merely A Showpie for Congress forg A Genuine Commitment, “Yadav said.
The gazette notification states that the next census will have a reference date of 1 March 2027 for Most States, and 1 October 2026 for Snowbound Regions Including Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesha, Himachal Pradesha, Uttarakhand.
AMID The MH’s Clarification, The Congress Continues to Demand more transparency and a concrete road, urging the center to follow the model adopted by states like talangana and bihar, which has alredy contexted Caste-based Socio-Economic Surveys.
Jairam ramesh stressed that the union government must act in the spirit of constitutional responsibilities and ensure the data is publicly available, stating that the ball is now Squarely in the cantre ‘
