OBC groups seek mandatory caste coding in Census, warn against ‘unscientific’ enumeration
OBC groups and political leaders are demanding mandatory caste-based enumeration and unique caste codes in the upcoming national Census. They argue that without these measures, the exercise will be scientifically flawed and a waste of public funds.
Why it matters
The debate over caste-based census data is a central issue in Indian social justice politics, influencing future reservation policies and resource allocation.
A national OBC conference on Sunday (August 30, 2026) demanded that the Central government make caste enumeration mandatory in the nationwide Census and assign a separate “unique code” to every caste. Conducting a Census without these measures would be a waste of public money, and the exercise should be halted until a nationwide consensus is reached on the issue, OBC leaders said.
The conference was chaired by former IAS officer and chairman of the Backwards Classes Intellectual Forum T. Chiranjeevulu, and All India OBC Students Association president G. Kiran Kumar.
Without assigning a unique code to every caste, the speakers said, the Census could not be scientifically sound. “Just as separate columns are provided for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, separate columns should also be created for OBCs and the General Category,” several speakers at the conference said.
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