Archive · 17 Aug 2026
OBC Federation Warns of Protest Over Caste Census Gazette Omission
The government of India is getting ready to count everyone in the country.
This counting is called a census.
The government also said it would count people by their caste.
Caste is a part of Indian society that has existed for a very long time.
Some groups, called Other Backward Classes, or OBCs, wanted to be counted in their own special group.
But when the government shared its list of census questions, there was no separate box for OBCs.
A leader named Eknath Taramale said this is not fair.
He said OBC people have not been counted separately since 1931.
He wants the government to fix the list and add a clear OBC category.
If the government does not listen, he says people will hold a big protest in Delhi.
The National OBC Federation has objected to the absence of a separate OBC category in the Central government's Census Gazette notification.
The Gazette notification, issued on August 14, 2026, lists 40 census questions, with the tenth point referring to SCs, STs and 'caste' without clearly defining OBC enumeration.
Eknath Taramale, Konkan Division President of the National OBC Federation, said OBCs have not been included in an independent caste census since 1931.
The Centre announced its decision to conduct a caste census on April 30, 2025, raising expectations within the OBC community.
Taramale warned of a large-scale protest at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan during the Winter Session of Parliament if the demand is not addressed.
- Who
- Eknath Taramale, President of the Konkan Division of the National OBC Federation, and the Central government
- What
- The National OBC Federation objects to the absence of a separate OBC category in the Census Gazette and warns of protests
- When
- The Gazette notification was issued on August 14, 2026; the caste census decision was announced on April 30, 2025
- Where
- India; a protest is planned at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi
- Why
- OBC leaders say a separate category is needed for accurate caste-wise data on population, education, employment and representation
National OBC Federation
Central Government
Separate OBC category in census
National OBC Federation
The Gazette must be amended to include a separate, clearly defined OBC category so OBC communities can be accurately enumerated.
Central Government
The Gazette lists 40 questions, with the tenth point covering SCs, STs and 'caste', which suggests caste identity may be recorded for every individual.
- Gazette notification date
- August 14, 2026
- Census questions listed
- 40
- Caste census announcement
- April 30, 2025
- Last independent caste census
- 1931
- Socio-Economic and Caste Census
- 2011 (caste-wise data never made public)
- Demand
- Separate, clearly defined OBC category in the census
- Planned protest
- Ramlila Maidan, Delhi, during the Winter Session of Parliament