Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Haryana Congress Seeks Accurate, Scientific Caste Census
Haryana Congress leaders want the next census to count caste communities carefully.
They say the same community can be known by different names or spellings.
If those names are counted separately, the numbers may not be reliable.
The party proposed checking names and linking confirmed variations to the same code.
It also said people should still be able to give their own caste name.
Experts and community groups should help design the system, the party said.
It asked the government to study Telangana’s caste survey.
The party believes accurate numbers can help make fairer public policies.
Haryana Congress said a caste census can advance social justice only if communities are counted accurately and consistently.
A delegation led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda submitted a memorandum to the Haryana governor on Wednesday.
The party warned that recording caste names verbatim could split one community across entries because of spelling, regional or synonym variations.
It called for validated caste codes, state- and union-territory-wise master lists, and ways to record identities missing from those lists.
The memorandum urged expert consultation, state-wise discussions and study of Telangana’s SEEEP caste survey.
- Who
- A delegation of Haryana Congress leaders, including Bhupinder Singh Hooda, submitted the memorandum.
- What
- The party sought measures to ensure accurate and consistent caste enumeration in the forthcoming Census.
- When
- Wednesday, October 7; the year is not specified in the report.
- Where
- Chandigarh, where the delegation submitted the memorandum to the Haryana governor.
- Why
- Congress said reliable caste data is needed for sound public policy, equitable representation and social justice.
Congress’s requested approach
Census authorities’ position
Methodology and classification
Congress’s requested approach
Congress called for standardised, scientifically validated caste codes and mapping of verified name variations to avoid fragmented counts.
Census authorities’ position
The article does not report a response or position from the government or Census authorities.
Expert consultation
Congress’s requested approach
Congress urged a multidisciplinary expert group, state-wise consultations and study of Telangana’s SEEEP survey.
Census authorities’ position
The article does not state whether the government or Census authorities will adopt these requests.
- Submitting group
- Haryana Congress delegation
- Recipient
- Haryana governor
- Key concern
- Different names, synonyms and spelling variations could fragment counts of the same community.
- Proposed data measure
- Assign scientifically validated unique codes to recognised castes and communities.
- Identity safeguard
- Preserve the citizen’s stated caste in the original response field.
- Consultation proposal
- Form a multidisciplinary expert group and conduct state-wise consultations.
- Survey cited
- Telangana’s Socio-Economic, Educational, Employment and Political (SEEEP) caste survey