Call for protest demanding drop-down menu for caste in 2027 census

The All India Caste Census Coordination Committee on Thursday called for a nationwide protest at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on 28 November. According to a report by The Hindu, the committee seeks to reconsider the Central Government's method for counting caste in the 2027 census to ensure a comprehensive and accurate caste count.

A coalition of various OBC associations and other civil society groups across the country has demanded that a drop-down menu be introduced during the census stage. Additionally, they are also demanding that unique codes be provided to all castes (SC, ST, OBC, and General).

The Central Government, in the final draft of the questionnaire for the 2027 census, has decided that for all people except SC and ST, the count of caste will be done through an open column. This method was also used in the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC), which resulted in more than 46 lakh caste names, but these results were scrapped by the government due to inaccuracies.

While calling for the protest in Delhi on Thursday, leaders of various organisations and OBC associations stated that a drop-down menu counting all castes is essential. This will enable the collection of accurate social, educational, and economic data for social justice and proportional representation.

Yogendra Yadve, National Convenor and activist of the Bharat Jodo Abhiyan, stated that a caste census is essential to understand inequalities and ensure social justice. He added that every community should be counted properly.

G. Kiran Kumar, National President of the All India OBC Students Association, also supported this view. He said that the 2027 census is a historic opportunity to ensure social justice. He demanded unique codes for all castes, a separate drop-down option for OBCs, and the removal of the 50% limit on reservations. He appealed to students and OBC youth across the country to participate in the protest on 28 November.

DMK Rajya Sabha MP P. Vilas stated that the government should prepare a certified caste directory to ensure accurate counting and provide unique codes to every OBC community. Former Telangana Minister and National Convenor of the All India OBC Peoples Representative Forum, V. Srinivas Goud, stated that this method was necessary so that OBCs get their due share in education, jobs, and political representation.

A census is a process of collecting details such as the number, age, gender, and other socio-economic information of the country's citizens. In India, census data is used to formulate government schemes and policies.