The methodology to be followed for enumeration of castes in the upcoming census is yet to be finalized and the preparatory exercise for it is likely to be completed by July, government sources said.
Opposition parties like the Congress and the Samajwadi Party have questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government over the absence of an expanded caste column in the first-phase census questionnaire released last week. The parties questioned whether the Center actually intends to conduct a caste enumeration during the 2027 census.
However, the final caste enumeration questionnaire is likely to be known only in September, when Ladakh and the snow-covered regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will start the Population Enumeration (PE), the second phase of Census 2027, before the rest of the country. The caste enumeration in all other states will be held during the PE phase in February 2027.
This will be the 16th census and the first in independent India to count all castes except Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), the government said.
Unlike the 2011 Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC), which was conducted outside the purview of the Census, this time caste will be enumerated in the second and final phase, giving it statutory backing. The SECC enumerated more than 46 lakh castes, while the total number of castes during the 1931 pre-independence census was 4,147.
It will also be the first time census data will be captured digitally, on smartphones and mobile apps, and the first time citizens will be able to enumerate themselves through a yet-to-be-announced portal.
The census will be conducted in two phases, with House and Flat Census (HLO) from April to September 2026 and PE in February 2027. The Registrar and Census Commissioner of India (RG&CCI) announced 33 questions for the HLO phase on 22 January. Question number 12 in the questionnaire was Scheud head Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Other.”
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that Question 12 specifically did not include Other Backward Classes (OBC) and General categories. “With the enumeration of castes to be part of the 2027 census, Question 12 as framed raises serious questions about the real intentions of the Modi government and its commitment to a comprehensive, fair, nationwide caste census,” Mr Ramesh wrote on X.
He said the Congress wanted the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to immediately initiate a dialogue with political parties, state governments and civil society organizations before finalizing the details of the enumeration of castes.
“These consultations were an integral part of the Telangan Government’s 2025 SEEEPC (Socio-Economic, Educational, Employment, Political and Caste) survey, which remains the most comprehensive and meaningful way to gather vital caste-based information on education, employment, income and political engagement – which is critical to ensuring greater economic and social justice.
2011 Schedule or Questionnaire for HLO phase also had the same question under serial number 15. SC/ST column data was filled in second phase through centrally approved list. While the list of OBCs can be maintained by both the state and the centre, the SC/ST titles are maintained only by the central government.
According to the latest government data, there are about 2,650 Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the central list, 1,170 in the Scheduled Caste category and 890 communities in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list. It is yet to be decided whether the ‘Others’ column will be a combined Central and State list of OBCs or a list of unreserved caste categories.
The preliminary examination or census preparatory exercise, which was held for the first time from November 10 to 30, 2025, was actually only about HLO or the first phase as a caste methodology. In the past, the preparatory exercise covered both phases simultaneously.
A state government official said the preliminary examination for the PE phase will have to be completed by July as the snow states are scheduled to complete both the phases in September.
On January 24, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also accused the government of hesitating on the caste census.
“There is not even a column for caste in the census notification – what will they count? Caste-based census is just another BJP ploy. BJP’s direct formula is: no census, no demographic basis for proportional reservation or rights. Not doing caste-based census is BJP’s conspiracy against PDA,” he wrote.
Published – 26 Jan 2026 23:13 IST
