Congress Questions Modi Government’s Intentions on Caste Census, Demands Immediate Dialogue

New Delhi, January 26, 2026: Following the Samajwadi Party, the Congress has raised concerns over the Modi government’s intentions regarding the inclusion of a caste census in the upcoming 2027 population enumeration. The party has called for immediate consultations with all stakeholders before finalizing the process.

Congress’s communications chief and party general secretary Jairam Ramesh expressed skepticism over the government’s approach after the release of 33 questions related to the first phase of the census. Sharing the notification on social media, he said, “Phase-1 of Census 2027 will take place from April to September 2026 and will cover house-listing and housing enumeration. Phase-2, or the population count, will be conducted across the rest of the country in February 2027.”

Concerns Over Question No. 12

Ramesh highlighted that Question 12 asks whether the head of the household belongs to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), or other categories, but does not explicitly include Other Backward Classes (OBC) or the general category. “When the caste census is being integrated with Census 2027, Question 12 raises serious doubts about the government’s true intent and its commitment to conducting a comprehensive, fair, and nationwide caste enumeration,” he stated.

Congress Calls for Immediate Dialogue

Emphasizing the need for transparency, Congress urged the government to initiate consultations with political parties, state governments, and civil society organizations before finalizing the details of the caste census process. The party argued that its approach in Telangana’s caste survey represents a broader and more effective model, ensuring social justice and accuracy.

Congress criticized the government’s sudden readiness to conduct the caste census under external pressure, noting that the notification issued lacks clarity regarding the scope of caste-related questions, particularly for OBCs and the general category.