The Supreme Court on 20 May 2026 ruled that the government can include caste enumeration in the upcoming Census 2027. The judgment was delivered by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, heading a three‑judge bench.
Key Developments
- The bench dismissed a petition by Sudhakar Gummula, who argued that caste data could be misused by politicians and corporations.
- The Court said deciding whether to count caste is a matter of policy, not judicial review.
- The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs had already approved the inclusion in a meeting held in April 2025.
Important Facts
- Earlier censuses recorded only Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). The 2027 exercise will broaden the scope to all caste groups.
- The first phase, called the House Listing Operation (HLO), collected information on housing, assets, and amenities.
- The second phase, Population Enumeration, will capture demographic, socio‑economic, cultural and other details, including caste.
- The last comprehensive nationwide caste count was conducted in 1931 during colonial rule.
- Former Vice‑President Jagdeep Dhankar described thoughtfully collected caste data as an "MRI of the body" for social integration.
Exam Relevance
Understanding the role of the