Seems PM Modi wants entire caste census process to fail: Congress
The Congress party has criticized the Indian government's decision to use open-ended questions in the upcoming caste census, arguing it will lead to data inaccuracies. They are demanding a standardized drop-down list to ensure the census effectively supports social justice initiatives.
Why it matters
The methodology of a caste census is highly contentious in Indian politics, as it directly influences policy-making regarding reservation and social welfare.
The Congress on Wednesday (September 9, 2026) alleged that the government's decision to use open-ended questions instead of a drop-down list in the current format of the caste census is a "very serious flaw", and said it seems that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants the entire process to "fail".
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said his party has held 17 press conferences across the country in the last four days and reiterated the demand for conducting the caste census in the right manner.
"A caste census is not just about counting castes, but about ensuring social justice. Right kind of questions --> Right data --> Right share --> Social justice," Mr. Ramesh said in a post in Hindi on X.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in