How will caste census help build India? Rahul Gandhi explains

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday welcomed the Centre’s move to club caste enumeration with the upcoming national census, calling it a “step in the right direction”, though one taken “under pressure.” He emphasized that the caste census is not merely a statistical exercise but a transformative tool for inclusive development and social justice.

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Speaking to reporters, Gandhi termed the caste census a “new paradigm of development” and underscored that it was originally the Congress’s vision. “We are glad they have adopted it,” he said, adding that it lays the foundation for the next phase of equitable policymaking.

Outlining a three-pronged roadmap, Gandhi said the Congress would now focus on ensuring that the data is used to evaluate the actual participation of India’s underrepresented groups — especially the Backward Classes, Dalits, and Adivasis — in governance, education, and employment. “We want to go beyond the census and look at the real participation of 90% of our people,” he stated.

He further demanded the removal of the existing 50% cap on caste-based reservations, calling it a roadblock to progress. As a third step, he called for urgent implementation of Article 15(5), which mandates reservation in private educational institutions.

Gandhi reiterated that these steps were essential to achieve genuine social justice and bridge systemic inequality in India.