Overview
On 30 August 2026, a national conference of OBC leaders called for two major changes in the upcoming Census. They want caste enumeration to become mandatory and each caste to receive a distinct unique code. The demand reflects concerns that a Census without these measures would waste the estimated ₹12,800 crore allocated by the Centre.
Key Developments
- The conference was chaired by former IAS officer T. Chiranjeevulu, chairman of the Backwards Classes Intellectual Forum, and by G. Kiran Kumar, president of the All India OBC Students Association.
- Speakers urged the creation of separate columns for SC, ST, OBCs and the General Category.
- DMK leader and Rajya Sabha MP P. Wilson and scholar Yogendra Yadav warned that a “formal” Census would squander public money.
- Opposition parties, including the Congress, objected to the proposed open‑ended caste recording format, citing regional name variations.
Important Facts
The central government plans to spend ₹12,800 crore on the 2026 Census. The OBC conference argues that without a scientifically robust caste‑wise enumeration, the data will be unreliable for policy formulation. They also highlighted the risk of a nationwide movement if their demands are ignored.
Exam Relevance
Understanding the Census process is vital for GS1 (demographic trends), GS2 (social justice and constitutional provisions), and GS3 (resource allocation). The debate touches on affirmative‑action policies, data‑driven governance, and federal‑center relations—core themes in the Civil Services syllabus.
Way Forward
- Government could form a multi‑stakeholder committee, including OBC representatives, to design a consensus‑based caste enumeration framework.
- Introduce a pilot phase in selected states to test the unique code system before nationwide rollout.
- Ensure that the Census questionnaire accommodates regional caste name variations while maintaining standardisation.
- Communicate the benefits of detailed caste data for targeted welfare schemes to mitigate opposition concerns.
Adopting these steps can enhance the scientific credibility of the Census, safeguard the substantial fiscal outlay, and address the aspirations of OBC communities.