Caste Census Confirmed Centre to Include Caste Data in 2025 Population Survey

shibnathkhan

In a landmark decision, the Indian government has officially announced that caste enumeration will be included in the upcoming 2025 national population census. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed this major policy shift during a Cabinet briefing, stating that the move aims to bring transparency and social justice to India's demographic data. This historic decision follows years of demand from various political parties, especially the Congress and opposition alliance INDIA bloc, who have consistently advocated for a nationwide caste census. States like Bihar have already conducted their own caste surveys, with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pioneering the initiative in 2023. The central government's move is expected to have a far-reaching impact on reservation policies, economic planning, and social welfare schemes for OBCs, SCs, STs, and EWS. In this detailed report, anchor Shibnath analyzes the political, social, and historical significance of the announcement. We cover the timeline, key political reactions, and what this means for India's future. 🔔 Subscribe to Democratic News TV for reliable, in-depth political coverage. 📢 Don’t forget to like, share, and comment with your views on this major development. #CasteCensus2025 #IndiaCensus #ModiGovernment #BiharCasteSurvey #RahulGandhi #SocialJusticeIndia #OBCReservation #DemocraticNewsTV  KEY WORDS: Caste census 2025 India caste data Caste enumeration Census with caste data Modi government caste census Ashwini Vaishnaw caste census Bihar caste survey Rahul Gandhi caste census demand National population census India OBC data in census Reservation and caste data Caste-based survey India Caste census news Congress on caste census BJP caste enumeration Socio-economic caste census India census update 2025 Backward class data India Political impact of caste census Caste survey vs census India HASH TAGS: #CasteCensus2025 #IndiaCensus #CasteData #ModiGovernment #SocialJusticeIndia #BiharCasteSurvey #RahulGandhi #OBCReservation #IndianPolitics #DemocraticNewsTV #ShibnathKhan

Transcript

00:00this channel does not promote any violent harmful or illegal activities all content provided by

00:23this channel is meant for an educational purpose only good evening and welcome to democratic news tv

00:32i'm sheebnath bringing you a major development that could reshape india's social and political

00:37landscape in a historic move the central government has announced that caste data will be officially

00:44included in the upcoming national census this long debated issue has sparked nationwide discussion

00:51and could significantly impact policy making representation and social justice across the

00:58country let's take a closer look at what this means for india in a landmark move with profound

01:05social and political implications the government of india has officially announced that the forthcoming

01:11national population census will include caste enumeration this decision revealed by union

01:18minister ashwini vashnav on 30th april 2025 during a cabinet committee briefing marks a historic policy

01:26shift and revives a decades-long debate over caste data collection our census only as a political tool

01:33to ensure that a social fabric is not disturbed by politics caste enumeration should be transparently

01:42included i'm emphasizing the word transparently transparently included in the census instead of surveys

01:53this will strengthen the social and economic structure of our society while the nation continues to progress

02:00under the leadership of our prime minister sri narendra modiji the cabinet committee of political affairs

02:06has decided today that is 30th april 2025 that caste enumeration should be included in the forthcoming census

02:16the inclusion of caste data in the next census is being viewed not only as a significant administrative

02:24decision but also as a bold political response to a growing demand from various sections of indian society

02:30particularly opposition parties and social justice advocates historically caste has been an invisible

02:38variable in india's national censuses since independence while caste was recorded in the colonial era censuses

02:46post 1947 governments especially under congress leadership chose not to include it in national enumeration exercises

02:56the last time caste was comprehensively recorded was in the 1931 census since then india has relied on outdated estimates

03:06with only scheduled castes scs and scheduled tribes sts receiving regular mention the absence of comprehensive

03:15caste data has created a void in understanding the socioeconomic realities of the majority of the population

03:22particularly the other backward classes obcs which form a significant portion of india's demographic landscape

03:30the demand for a caste census gained renewed momentum in recent years particularly after the state

03:36of bihar conducted its own caste-based survey in october 2023 at the time bihar's chief minister nitish kumar

03:46then aligned with the rashtriya janta dal rgd and the congress pushed through the survey making bihar the first state

03:53in independent india to officially collect caste data post-independence the move sparked national debate

04:01with the bjp then in opposition in bihar expressing cautious support they recognized the political sensitivity of

04:09the issue aware that any criticism of caste enumeration could alienate a large voter base from backward and

04:16marginalized communities the bihar caste survey revealed a stark social reality over 63 percent of the

04:24population belonged to extremely backward classes ebcs or other backward classes obcs following the report

04:33the bihar government introduced special quotas pushing reservations up to 65 percent

04:40this move intensified demands for a similar caste census at the national level

04:46opposition parties particularly the congress and its allies in the india bloc quickly took up the coins

04:53congress leader rahul gandhi spearheaded the movement promising caste-based censuses in every state

05:00garnered by his party a promise since fulfilled in karnatak and telangana rahul gandhi's rallying cry

05:07jati janaganana hoke rahegi the caste census will happen became a political slogan encapsulating the

05:15growing demand for social and economic justice the congress party argued that a caste census was vital to

05:22design and implement more equitable policies as it would provide accurate data to measure the

05:28socio-economic disparities faced by backward classes so he needs to act that's what i'm saying he can

05:38act he can act in whatever time frame

05:44he thinks necessary but he has to act soon

05:48i think i think you i think you heard what i said yeah i said i think you heard what i said i said

05:57let me speak let me speak i'm not advocating anything i'm being very clear the people who've done this

06:02need to pay a price okay and the prime minister has to act on it now firmly he should not dilly dally

06:11he should not be in a confused state thank you they also pointed out that reservations and welfare

06:16programs based on outdated caste data were inherently flawed and ineffective in response to mounting

06:23pressure the union government led by the bhartiya janta party bjp has now decided to include caste

06:30enumeration in the next census minister ashwini vashna announced under the leadership of prime minister

06:38narendra modi the cabinet committee on political affairs has decided that caste enumeration should be

06:45included in the forthcoming census this demonstrates that our government is committed to the values

06:51and interests of our society he linked the move to the government's broader commitment to social justice

06:58citing the previous introduction of 10 percent reservation for economically weaker sections

07:04ews as another example however the announcement was not without political barbs

07:11mr vashna criticized the congress for its historical opposition to caste enumeration he highlighted that

07:19even when most political parties recommended a caste census in 2010 the then congress-led government under

07:27prime minister dr manmohan singh chose to conduct the survey the socioeconomic and caste census secc

07:34rather than an official caste census this decision mr vashna claimed reflected congress's reluctance to confront

07:43the caste reality of indian society he accused the congress and its allies of using the caste

07:49census issue as a mere political tool minister vashna also stressed that only the union government

07:57has the constitutional authority to conduct a caste census as per article 46 of the indian constitution

08:05census is a union subject listed in entry 69 of the 7th schedule he cautioned that while some states have

08:13conducted their own caste surveys these were often done in a non-transparent manner creating societal confusion

08:20and deepening divisions such surveys have created doubts in society he warned adding to ensure

08:28our social fabric is not disturbed by politics caste enumeration should be transparently included in the

08:35national census interestingly while the bjp at the central level had earlier resisted such initiatives citing

08:44administrative and logistical complexities it now seems to have recalibrated its position

08:50analysts believe the timing of the announcement is politically strategic coming months before the

08:56bihar assembly elections a state where caste dynamics heavily influence electoral outcomes by endorsing a

09:04caste census the bjp could be aiming to win back backward caste voters who had begun gravitating toward

09:11opposition parties advocating for greater representation and equity the congress unsurprisingly has claimed

09:20credit for this policy shift spokesperson pavan khaira remarked the timing is very interesting

09:27we hope there is some sincerity behind the decision he reiterated that it was rahul gandhi's persistent

09:34campaigning that forced the center to yield we cannot forget rahul gandhi's famous words jati janagana

09:42i will say the government is now with rahul gandhi khera added while political tussles continue the real

09:51significance of the center's announcement lies in its potential to reshape indian policy making and welfare

09:58distribution a comprehensive caste census will provide crucial data on the socioeconomic status of all

10:05castes and subcastes allowing for more targeted affirmative action policies it could lead to a

10:12re-evaluation of existing quotas welfare schemes and budgetary allocations making them more reflective

10:19of ground realities critics however caution that caste enumeration must be handled with utmost care and

10:27transparency if politicized or conducted poorly it risks deepening caste divisions rather than bridging them

10:36the government has assured that the process will be conducted transparently with safeguards to ensure

10:43accuracy and societal harmony beyond caste the union cabinet also approved several infrastructure projects

10:51including the twenty two thousand eight hundred and sixty four crore rupees shilang silcher fallen

10:56corridor highway which will connect meghalay and assam and enhance connectivity to manipur and

11:02mezuram while this may seem unrelated such development initiatives combined with progressive social policies

11:10like caste enumeration signal the government's intent to balance infrastructure growth with social justice

11:17in conclusion the inclusion of caste data in the next census is more than a bureaucratic or political move

11:25it is a long overdue step towards social justice if conducted with transparency and sincerity

11:32it holds the potential to transform india's governance model by providing a clearer data-driven

11:38understanding of caste-based inequalities it also underscores the political reality

11:44that issues of representation dignity and inclusion can no longer be sidelined in the world's largest

11:51democracy as the nation prepares for this landmark census all eyes will be on how caste data is collected

11:59interpreted and used in shaping india's future will it pave the way for a more equitable society or depend

12:07political divides only time will tell stay tuned to democratic news tv for continuous

12:14updates and in-depth analysis i'm sheep not signing off for now take care and stay informed goodbye

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