The recent announcement by the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government to include caste enumeration in the forthcoming national census has sent shockwaves through India’s political landscape. This decision, hailed as a historic step toward social justice and inclusive governance, has not only reshaped the narrative around caste politics but also exposed the Congress party’s decades-long inaction and opportunism on the issue. While the Congress ecosystem now scrambles to claim credit for this transformative move, the reality is clear: the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has delivered where Congress consistently failed, proving its commitment to addressing the needs of India’s marginalized communities with foresight and resolve.
For over five decades, the Congress party, which ruled India for much of the post-independence era, had ample opportunity to conduct a caste census. Such an exercise could have provided critical data to address socio-economic disparities and strengthen affirmative action policies for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs). Yet, Congress governments repeatedly sidestepped the issue, prioritizing political expediency over social justice. The Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) initiated in 2011 under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was a half-hearted attempt, described by BJP leader Aparajita Sarangi as a “haphazard survey” that was never made public. The failure to release its findings underscores Congress’s lack of commitment to transparency and actionable reform. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan aptly highlighted this hypocrisy, noting that Congress “never undertook a caste census because historically they had been opposed to it.”
In contrast, the Modi government’s decision to integrate caste enumeration into the national census reflects a bold and calculated strategy to address long-standing demands for social equity. This move, announced on April 30, 2025, by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, marks a significant departure from the BJP’s earlier cautious stance on the issue. The timing, ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections where caste dynamics play a pivotal role, demonstrates the BJP’s political acumen. By embracing the caste census, the BJP has not only neutralized a key opposition plank but also positioned itself as a champion of inclusive development. As Vaishnaw emphasized, the decision aims to ensure that “the social fabric is not disturbed by politics” and that caste enumeration is conducted transparently through the census rather than politically motivated state surveys.
The Congress’s attempt to claim credit for this decision is both shameless and disingenuous. Posters featuring Rahul Gandhi outside Congress headquarters in Delhi, installed by party leader Srinivas BV, proclaim that Gandhi’s “relentless advocacy” forced the Modi government’s hand. Yet, historical evidence paints a different picture. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s claim that the UPA’s 2013 SECC was a genuine caste census is undermined by the fact that its data was never released, rendering it ineffective. Moreover, Rahul Gandhi’s own rhetoric, once dismissed by Prime Minister Modi as reflective of an “urban naxal mindset,” conveniently shifted to claiming victory when the BJP announced the census. This opportunistic posturing exposes Congress’s desperation to remain relevant in a political landscape increasingly dominated by the BJP’s proactive governance.
The BJP’s decision is not merely a reaction to opposition pressure but a culmination of strategic deliberations within the party and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Reports indicate that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s meeting with PM Modi on the eve of the announcement played a crucial role in finalizing the decision. The RSS, which had previously expressed reservations about a caste census, conducted extensive feedback sessions across states, recognizing overwhelming public support for the exercise. This shift reflects the BJP’s ability to adapt to changing socio-political realities while staying true to its vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” (Together with All, Development for All). By linking the caste census to targeted socio-economic schemes, the BJP aims to empower disadvantaged communities, as evidenced by its support for caste-based surveys in Bihar, where the party was part of the cabinet that approved the state’s 2023 caste survey.
The Congress’s historical resistance to caste-based enumeration is further highlighted by its handling of the Mandal Commission report. Established in 1977 under the Janata Party government, which included the BJP’s predecessor, the Jana Sangh, the Mandal Commission aimed to promote social justice for OBCs. However, Congress governments kept the report shelved for a decade, only for it to be implemented under the National Front government led by V.P. Singh. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan rightly pointed out that Congress’s inaction during this period delayed critical reforms for backward classes. The BJP, by contrast, has consistently advanced OBC empowerment, from granting constitutional status to the OBC commission to now committing to a nationwide caste census.
The political implications of the BJP’s move are profound, particularly in electorally significant states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. In Bihar, where caste politics dominates, the BJP’s endorsement of the caste census undermines the opposition’s narrative, particularly that of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress-led Mahagathbandhan. JD(U) working president Sanjay Jha noted that Nitish Kumar’s long-standing advocacy for a caste census, including his 2021 meeting with PM Modi, was supported by the BJP, debunking Congress’s claims of exclusivity. In Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP faced setbacks in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections due to shifting OBC loyalties, the caste census is a preemptive strike to consolidate its support among OBCs and Dalits while maintaining its upper-caste base.
Critics within the Congress ecosystem argue that the BJP’s move is a political gambit driven by electoral compulsions. However, this narrative ignores the BJP’s track record of delivering on complex reforms, from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to Aadhaar-linked direct benefit transfers and the women’s reservation bill. The caste census announcement is another example of the Modi government taking reforms to their “logical conclusion,” as a BJP source described. Unlike Congress, which used caste as a divisive political tool without substantive action, the BJP is leveraging the census to foster data-driven governance that benefits all communities.
The Congress’s attempt to “own the narrative” on the caste census is a futile exercise in damage control. Its leaders, from Jairam Ramesh to Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, have resorted to grandstanding, with Ramesh questioning the census’s funding and timeline while Reddy claims credit for state-level surveys. Yet, these efforts ring hollow against the backdrop of Congress’s failure to act when in power. Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule’s retort that Rahul Gandhi has “no rights” to demand a timeline, given Congress’s inaction, resonates with many.
In conclusion, the Modi government’s approval of a caste census is a masterstroke that underscores the BJP’s commitment to social justice and electoral strategy. By addressing a long-standing demand that Congress ignored for decades, the BJP has not only checkmated its opponents but also reinforced its image as a party of action and reform. The Congress’s desperate attempts to claim credit are a testament to its diminishing relevance in a political era defined by PM Modi’s visionary leadership. As India moves toward a more equitable future, the BJP’s caste census will stand as a milestone in empowering the marginalized, proving that true change comes from resolve, not rhetoric.
