For the first time in almost a century, India will count the number of people in each caste and sub-caste. This announcement came from the government on April 30.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared the news during a press briefing that followed a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs. While confirming the caste census, he also took a few jabs at the Congress party, accusing them of not doing enough when they were in power.

The last time India conducted a comprehensive caste count was in 1931.

India has hundreds of castes and sub-castes that are part of its rich social system. By counting each group, the government hopes to get a clearer picture of the population. This information can help in planning better policies and support systems for different communities.

A major announcement before elections in Bihar and UP

The announcement comes ahead of key elections in Bihar this year and Uttar Pradesh (UP) in 2027. Both states have strong caste-based voting patterns. This has led to political discussions about who will get credit for the caste count.

Many believe the move could give the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) an edge over its rivals in these elections.

Political debate heats up

After the announcement, political arguments began right away. The Congress party and its allies have often demanded a caste census and blamed the BJP for ignoring it. They said the BJP was not doing enough for people from underrepresented communities.

Now, BJP leaders can tell voters in Bihar and UP that they were the ones who actually made it happen. 

This line of messaging could help the BJP gain support from voters who care deeply about caste-based policies.

Caste survey in the past

Earlier, the Congress party had some success using the caste issue in their election campaigns. For example:

In Bihar, the Congress and Janata Dal (United) were allies when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar released the Bihar caste survey. Later, caste-based surveys were also held in Telangana and Karnataka, both of which were won by the Congress party.

Now that the BJP has officially approved a national caste census, it may impact how voters view both major parties.



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