CONGRESS ATTACKS CENTRE OVER CASTE CENSUS FORMAT, CITES TELANGANA MODEL

August 15, 2026

NEW DELHI – The Congress party has launched a sharp attack on the central government regarding the format of the upcoming caste enumeration, asserting that the decision to omit a pre-prepared list of castes raises "serious doubts on intent." The criticism follows the Centre's notification of 40 questions for the population enumeration phase of Census 2027.

Absence of a Pre-Prepared Caste List Sparks Concern

Under the newly notified guidelines, respondents will be asked whether they belong to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, alongside a separate question regarding their specific caste. However, sources indicate that the questionnaire will not feature a pre-prepared, state-wise list of castes for respondents to select from; instead, responses will be recorded dynamically as provided.

Congress General Secretary in-charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, criticized the approach, stating it deviated from widespread expectations. Ramesh pointed out that successful state-level exercises, such as the caste surveys conducted in Bihar and Telangana, utilized structured state-wise lists where respondents could simply tick the appropriate option.

Ignoring Previous Recommendations and Consultation

The party further alleged that the government completely sidelined constructive suggestions and bypassed consultations with opposition political parties. Ramesh highlighted a letter written by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which urged the Centre to adopt the "Telangana model."

According to the Congress, Kharge had previously emphasized that caste data should serve broader socio-economic development goals rather than function as a mere headcount. By failing to incorporate structured methodologies and avoiding political consensus, the opposition argues the current framework lacks transparency and effective design for targeted welfare policy-making.