The Government of India has launched the second‑phase rehearsal of Census 2027 on 6 July 2026 across 16 states and Union Territories. The rehearsal tests a new “open column” for caste, a feature that will have statutory backing if retained.
Key Developments
- Rehearsal started on 6 July 2026 in 16 states/UTs.
- Introduces an open column for respondents to state their caste.
- Pre‑test will conclude on 20 July 2026, after which the final methodology will be decided.
- Learning from the 2011 SECC experience, where an open‑ended approach produced over 46 lakh caste names.
- Plan to use digital hand‑held devices pre‑loaded with a curated list of castes and sub‑castes.
- Method mirrors the successful approach of the 2022‑23 Bihar caste survey.
Important Facts
The 2011 SECC recorded more than 46 lakh distinct "caste names" compared with only 4,147 entries in the 1931 Census, the last nationwide caste tabulation. The Supreme Court in 2021 held that SECC figures were too error‑prone for reservation decisions. The current pre‑test aims to avoid such pitfalls by standardising entries through technology.
Exam Relevance
Understanding the shift from an open‑ended to a curated‑list approach is crucial for reservation and creamy layer debates. Accurate caste data will help policymakers refine the sub‑categorisation of OBCs, assess the effectiveness of welfare schemes, and address the constitutional mandate of social justice (GS2: Polity). The role of the Supreme Court in scrutinising census data underscores the legal dimension of demographic exercises.
Way Forward
- Analyse the pre‑test results to confirm that the curated list reduces duplicate or ambiguous entries.
- Incorporate feedback from enumerators and respondents to fine‑tune the list before the full census.
- Ensure that the final caste data are linked to welfare targeting, reservation policy reviews, and the periodic assessment of the creamy‑layer threshold.
- Monitor judicial oversight to guarantee that caste enumeration aligns with constitutional guarantees of equality and non‑discrimination.