Congress Takes A Swipe At Centre Over 'Missing' OBC Option In Question 12 Of Upcoming Census

Last Updated:January 27, 2026, 13:31 IST

Jairam Ramesh has criticised the Centre for allegedly omitting OBCs in the census form, questioning the government's commitment to a comprehensive caste census

Jairam Ramesh demanded that the final census format should be prepared only after consultations with all political parties and state governments. (X/PTI)

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Monday mounted a sharp attack on the Centre over the upcoming census, alleging that the government is creating technical hurdles despite having announced the inclusion of a caste census.

Ramesh flagged the census notification issued on January 22, saying it raises serious doubts about the government’s intent. He pointed out that in the house-listing schedule comprising 33 questions, Question No. 12 makes no mention of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Instead, it offers only three options, namely, Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and ‘Other’, with no separate category for OBCs or the general category.

In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Ramesh said the design of the form itself undermines the claim that the government is committed to conducting a comprehensive caste census. “Since caste enumeration is to be part of Census 2027, Question 12 as formulated does raise serious questions on the Modi Government’s true intentions and on its commitment to a comprehensive, fair, nation-wide caste census," he said, adding that the omission of OBCs raises concerns about the credibility of the exercise.

The Congress has alleged that the Centre agreed to a caste census only after sustained political pressure and is now attempting to dilute its scope through procedural means. Ramesh recalled that the Modi government had earlier taken a firm stand against a caste census, rejecting the demand through affidavits filed in the Lok Sabha and the Supreme Court in July 2021. He also cited PM Modi’s remarks in April 2024, when he reportedly described the demand for a caste census as reflecting an “urban Naxal mentality".

According to Ramesh, the government’s position changed abruptly on April 30, 2025, when it announced that caste enumeration would be included in the forthcoming census. The decennial census, scheduled for completion in 2027, will be conducted in two phases. The first phase, house-listing and housing census, will run from April to September 2026 and will collect data on housing conditions and access to amenities such as water supply, internet and vehicles. The second phase, population enumeration, is slated for February 2027.

The Congress leader demanded that the final census format should be prepared only after consultations with all political parties and state governments. He cited the Telangana government’s 2025 survey as an example, arguing that data on education, employment and income levels must also be collected to ensure what he termed “greater economic and social justice".

News politics Congress Takes A Swipe At Centre Over 'Missing' OBC Option In Question 12 Of Upcoming Census

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