In a move that could redefine the social and political fabric of the nation, India officially launched its decennial census on Wednesday. This massive undertaking is not only being hailed as the world’s largest population count but also marks the first time since the country’s independence in 1947 that the government will systematically collect data on caste.
The exercise, which was delayed for five years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is rolling out in two distinct phases. The first phase, currently underway, focuses on house listing and housing conditions. Over the next six months, millions of enumerators will knock on doors to ask 33 specific questions regarding household amenities, assets, and living standards.
For the first time in Indian history, the process has gone digital. Residents now have the option of “self-enumeration,” allowing families to submit their details through a dedicated web portal before officials arrive. This shift toward a paperless system is intended to streamline a logistical challenge that involves counting an estimated 1.4 billion people—a population that has now surpassed China’s.
However, the inclusion of caste data in the second phase, scheduled for early 2027, remains the most significant and sensitive aspect of the survey. Since 1951, Indian censuses have only recorded data for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to facilitate affirmative action. The decision to expand this to the entire population follows decades of intense political debate.
Proponents of the caste-based count argue that the data is essential for “evidence-based policy.” They contend that without accurate figures on the various sub-castes and “Other Backward Classes” (OBCs), the government cannot effectively target welfare programs or address the deep-seated economic inequalities that persist across the traditional social hierarchy.
Critics, however, worry that the move could deepen social divisions and harden identity politics. The Hindu caste system, which traditionally ranks individuals into four primary tiers—Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras—continues to influence everything from marriage to employment. By formalizing these identities in the national record, some fear the country risks looking backward rather than toward a caste-blind future.
As the first phase begins in states like Karnataka and Odisha, the government has emphasized that all individual data will remain strictly confidential. The results, expected to be published in late 2027, will likely serve as the primary blueprint for India’s development and political strategy for the next decade.
