Assam CM Urges Non‑Assamese Residents to Record ‘Assamese’ Mother Tongue in 2026 Census — Political Implications

Overview The Census for 2026 has begun in Assam. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma appealed to people originally from other Indian states to mark Assamese as their mother tongue. The move aims to halt the steady decline of Assamese speakers recorded in previous censuses. Key Developments CM Sarma’s appeal was made on 16 August 2026 , just after the self‑enumeration phase ended. The appeal targets “natives of other States” – people who migrated from places like Rajasthan but now live in Assam. Exemptions are offered to tribal groups such as Bodos , Karbis , Misings , and to the Bengali‑speaking Barak Valley. The BJP, the ruling party in the state, frames the issue as protecting “native” Assamese against perceived outsiders. Important Facts Historical language data shows a decline in Assamese speakers: 59.53 % (1971) , 57.81 % (1991) , 48.80 % (2001) , and 48.38 % (2011) . In contrast, Bengali speakers rose from 19.7 % (1971) to 28.91 % (2011) . Hindi speakers increased modestly from 5.42 % (1971) to 6.73 % (2011) . The trend is expected to continue in the 2026‑27 data. During the 1950s, many Bengali‑origin Muslims (also called Na‑Axomiyas) identified as Assamese speakers, raising the share from 31.42 % (1931) to 59.53 % (1971) . Their assimilation was encouraged to counter perceived cultural dominance from Kolkata. UPSC Relevance Understanding the census dynamics in Assam is vital for GS 3 (Demography) and GS 2 (Polity) questions on linguistic minorities, federalism, and identity politics. The political strategy of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="BJP – Bharatiya Janata Party, the ruling national party; its electoral tactics often involve identity mobilisation (GS2: Polity)"