Congress challenges national caste census format

The dispute centers on the notification issued August 14, which mandates an open-ended field for caste entry rather than a standardized, pre-verified menu. Congress leadership warns that without a controlled list, inconsistent regional spellings and varied sub-caste terminology will fragment the dataset. Kharge noted that this approach risks recording identical groups under disparate labels, ultimately undermining the accuracy of the count for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and disadvantaged populations.

Congress MPs Jairam Ramesh and KC Venugopal have labeled the current methodology a deception, pointing out that the form lacks explicit categories for backward classes. They are pushing for a model modeled on recent state-level surveys in Bihar and Telangana, which utilized structured coding systems to ensure consistent data collection. The party is now calling for extensive all-party consultations to overhaul the process before the national exercise proceeds.

The BJP has dismissed these objections as political posturing born from panic. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya argued that the Congress is lashing out because the Modi administration is successfully executing a task the opposition failed to address during its decades in power. Meanwhile, state ministers have countered that the government remains committed to social justice, framing the opposition's procedural concerns as mere rhetoric intended to influence upcoming assembly contests.