Caste census gets centre’s nod: NDA leaders hail Modi’s historic move, Lalu Prasad recalls long-standing demand.
Patna April 30, 2025: The Narendra Modi-led Union government on Wednesday approved the long-pending demand for a caste census, a decision that has drawn strong praise from NDA leaders while reigniting credit claims by opposition stalwarts such as RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Following a Union cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the landmark decision.
“Caste will be counted in the census itself. Previous Congress governments avoided such steps and only created confusion, Our government has decided to act in the national interest,” Vaishnaw said.
The decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs often referred to as the “Super Cabinet” which includes senior ministers such as Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nirmala Seetharaman, Nitin Gadkari, and Piyush Goyal apart from PM Narendra Modi.
NDA leaders laud the caste census:
Union Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan welcomed the announcement, calling it a long-standing demand of his party.
“I expressed heartfelt gratitude to our popular Prime Minister. This decision answers many misconceptions about my position on the matter and will lead to more equitable policymaking,” Paswan said.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary termed it a “revolutionary decision.”
“It will bring to light socio-economic realities of deprived sections and enable better-targeted upliftment schemes,” Choudhary said.
BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal framed the decision as the first since independence.
“This is a historic step to understand the real societal structure. Unlike Congress’ appeasement politics, PM Modi is truly working for Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas,” Jaiswal said.
Opposition Reacts: “We led the way”:
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav responded by recalling the socialist origins of the caste census demand.
“In 1996-97, our United Front cabinet decided to include caste in the 2001 census, which was later blocked by the Vajpayee government. In 2011, we stalled Parliament demanding it again. It was only after Manmohan Singh’s assurance of a socio-economic survey that we relented.”
He also emphasized Bihar’s pioneering role in conducting caste-based survey in the state.
“The first caste survey was done during our 17-month Mahagathbandhan government. What we socialists thought 30 years ago, others are only realizing now,” Yadav said.
The decision is seen as both strategically timed ahead of crucial state elections and socially significant, as it could reshape how affirmative action policies are designed and whom they benefit.
Supporters argue it will help address deep-seated inequalities, while critics may raise concerns about social fragmentation or politicization of caste identities.
With both ruling and opposition parties now vying for credit, the caste census is poised to become a major electoral issue in the run-up to the 2025 Bihar assembly elections and the 2029 general election.
Also Read: Rahul Gandhi calls for caste census, questions Dalit representation in power structure.
EOM.