Cast Sensus : The Union Cabinet approved the caste census on Wednesday. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has taken this decision. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that it will be conducted along with the main census. Bihar assembly elections are to be held in the country at the end of this year.
Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the Modi government has taken steps in the interest of every section of the society and this has happened without any ruckus. The Modi government has taken this decision just a few months before the Bihar assembly elections. NDA can also benefit from this in Bihar.
The census was conducted every 10 years since 1951, but in 2021 the census was postponed due to the corona epidemic. The work of updating the National Population Register (NPR) is also pending. The new date of the census has not been officially announced yet. According to sources, the census data will be released in 2026. This may change the census cycle in the future. Like 2025-2035 and then 2035 to 2045.
Why is census important?
The census data is very important for the government to formulate and implement policies as well as to ensure equitable distribution of the country’s resources. It reveals not only the population but also many important aspects like demography, economic status.
All political parties including the opposition Congress are demanding caste census, so that the total number of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the country can be known.
Congress has always opposed caste census : Vaishnaw
Union Minister Vaishnaw said, ‘Caste census has not been conducted since 1947. Congress governments have always opposed caste census. In 2010, the late Dr. Manmohan Singh had said that the matter of caste census should be considered in the cabinet. A group of ministers was formed to consider the subject. Most of the political parties recommended caste census. Despite this, the Congress government did not decide to conduct caste survey or caste census.