Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Congress Questions Census 2027 Caste Questionnaire and Intent
The Congress party is questioning how India’s next census will ask about caste.
It says the questions may be designed in a confusing or unfair way.
Jairam Ramesh said the form asks about religion and the birth details of both parents.
He said these questions were not asked in earlier censuses.
A media report said people may write their caste, refuse to state it, or say they have no caste.
Congress also wants to know why the form does not have a list from which people can select their caste.
The party pointed to a 2021 government court filing that called such a list ideal.
Congress believes the census may have a deeper purpose, but the article does not include a government response to these allegations.
Congress alleged that the Census 2027 caste-question methodology is deliberately flawed.
Jairam Ramesh questioned the inclusion of detailed questions about religion and parents’ birth details.
A reported questionnaire would allow respondents to declare a caste, decline to declare one, or select “no caste.”
Congress said the census lacks a caste-selection dropdown despite a 2021 government affidavit describing one as ideal.
The party alleged that the government is attempting to sabotage the caste census and has changed its position.
- Who
- The Indian National Congress, represented by general secretary Jairam Ramesh, raised the allegations; the Modi government was criticized.
- What
- Congress challenged the methodology and alleged that Census 2027 may undermine the caste census.
- When
- The allegations were reported on Wednesday and Tuesday; the referenced government affidavit was filed on September 21, 2021.
- Where
- The dispute concerns India’s Census 2027 and a government affidavit filed in the Supreme Court.
- Why
- Congress objected to the reported questions and the absence of a caste-selection dropdown, which it said could help produce consistent data.
- Census
- Census 2027
- Congress spokesperson
- Jairam Ramesh, general secretary in-charge of communications
- Reported additional questions
- Religion, date of birth, and parents’ places of birth up to the village level
- Caste response options
- Declare a caste, decline to declare caste, or select “no caste,” according to a reported questionnaire
- Government affidavit
- Filed in the Supreme Court on September 21, 2021
- Congress objection
- The reported questionnaire does not include a dropdown menu for selecting castes
- Congress allegation
- The caste-census methodology is deliberately flawed and may have a deeper purpose