2025 Census to Include Religion and Caste Data

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

2025 Census Launch: India’s next census will start in 2025 and end in 2026, focusing on detailed data collection on religion and caste.
Push for Caste-Based Census: Several political parties are advocating for a caste-based census at the central level, similar to Bihar’s recent efforts.
Expanded Data on Religion and Caste: This census will include information on religion, social classes, and for the first time, religious sects.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

The Indian government has announced the 2025 national census, set to begin in 2025 and conclude in 2026, after delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This census marks a departure from the traditional decade-long cycle, now planned for every decade starting in 2035. The upcoming census aims to gather detailed data on religion, class, and caste, including sect-based affiliations, offering a broader perspective on India’s demographic composition.

Demand for Caste Census

Political parties, including the Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), have advocated for a caste-based census. JDU spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad highlighted Bihar’s own caste survey, which has been used to strengthen social and economic policies. LJP MP Shambhavi Chaudhary also urged for a nationwide caste census to help formulate more targeted policies.

Congress’s Criticism

Congress MP Manickam Tagore has accused the central government of “betraying” the Other Backward Classes (OBC) by avoiding a caste census. He urged the government and political allies to respond to public demands for representation.

Religious Demographics

The previous census in 2011 recorded Hindus as 79.8% of the population, Muslims 14.2%, Christians 2.3%, and Sikhs 1.7%. This year’s census aims to provide comprehensive data that can guide policy decisions and aid in understanding India’s social structure more accurately.