Amend Census Act

Caste enumeration must adopt a scientific & legally protected approach to avoid political distortion and constitutional violations

- Dr VAKULABHARANAM KRISHNA MOHAN RAO

India is home to one of the most socially, culturally and economically diverse populations in the world comprising Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), denotified tribes, semi-nomadic communities, pastoral groups, artisan castes, fisherfolk, forest-dwelling communities, and hundreds of region-specific backward classes.

In a nation of such layered identities, caste remains a deeply sensitive issue, closely tied to access, dignity and opportunity. It is not merely a political demand it is the lived experience and long-pending aspiration of crores of OBC citizens who have been waiting for recognition and justice through proper data. That is why, from the very beginning, any attempt at caste enumeration must adopt a scientific, methodical, and legally protected approach-not just for accuracy, but to avoid political distortion and constitutional violations.

In this context, the Modi government's announcement in April 2025 that caste data will be officially included in the forthcoming general Census is a historic and visionary step. To give this effort legal validity and policy utility, a statutory amendment to the Census Act, 1948, is essential.

Why SC/ST Data is Counted, but OBCs are left out

SC/ST enumeration is permitted because:

In contrast, OBC enumeration is not allowed because: