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Politics
Congress accuses 2027 Census questionnaire of hidden agenda over caste queries
✍️ The Hindu
🗓 19 Aug 2026, 10:39 AM
👁 25
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised the 2027 Census for introducing unprecedented caste, religion and parental birth‑place questions, alleging a deliberate bias.
Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said the upcoming Census 2027 includes micro‑level questions on caste, religion, date of birth and parents' place of birth that have never been part of previous enumerations, calling the design deliberately flawed.
He argued that such granular data could be used to further divide society and serve political ends, urging the government to withdraw or revise the questionnaire.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, which oversees the census, has not responded to the criticism yet. The census is scheduled to commence later this year, and the questionnaire is expected to be circulated to households across the country.
Analysts note that while the government claims the new questions aim to improve social‑policy targeting, opposition parties view them as a tool for vote‑bank politics.
He argued that such granular data could be used to further divide society and serve political ends, urging the government to withdraw or revise the questionnaire.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, which oversees the census, has not responded to the criticism yet. The census is scheduled to commence later this year, and the questionnaire is expected to be circulated to households across the country.
Analysts note that while the government claims the new questions aim to improve social‑policy targeting, opposition parties view them as a tool for vote‑bank politics.