Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi have asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconsider the questionnaire proposed by the government for the caste count in the upcoming Census. They feel the current proposal would undermine the accuracy of the caste data to be collected.

The issue of the Caste Census 2027 is once again back in the news as the Congress questions whether the proposed questionnaire will be able to capture caste-based information accurately.

Their argument is that the questionnaire should be revised before the caste enumeration starts in order to ensure a uniform understanding of the various castes across different regions and communities as otherwise, the final data may turn out to be misleading.

Congress Asks When the Caste Enumeration Will Begin

The latest row erupted when the Congress criticized the government for choosing to rely on open-ended questions to collect the caste-based data. Leaders from the Congress party alleged that the Union Home Ministry had failed to devise a standardized system for entering the socio-religious caste information of citizens in the questionnaire.

They argued that the lack of a standardised system to inputting the data would lead to inconsistencies and hinder the process of analysis, given that the same caste category could be entered differently across the country.

A section of the party has now demanded that the contentious questionnaire be scrapped and revised after consultations prior to embarking on the exercise.

Why the Caste Census Questionnaire Matters

• The method selected to collect caste-based information in Census 2027 will have real-world consequences.
• The Congress leaders have argued that a reliable nationwide caste census is essential to understanding the social composition of the country and plugging policy loopholes in areas such as social justice, welfare, education, employment, and quotas.
• They have also highlighted the affidavit filed by the previous government in the Supreme Court which suggested developing a standardised caste registry with an inbuilt screening mechanism as a basis for building a better policy framework.

Congress Asks For More Consultations Over How to Capture Caste Information

The controversy is not only about the questionnaire; it also pertains to the selection process of designing the Caste Census.

The Congress has accused the ruling party of bypassing consultation with political parties while finalizing the caste questionnaire for Census 2027.

The row has also seen criticism of the questionnaire as vague and unsubstantive.

The Congress spokespersons have argued that the government should follow in the footsteps of the Telangana government which conducted its caste survey by engaging a wider set of stakeholders in the process and adopting a more uniform method.

Rahul Gandhi’s Calls For Updated Caste Data Remain Unanswered

Rahul Gandhi has long sought after conducting a more updated caste census, arguing that it would play a critical role in ascertaining the state of social justice and equality in Indian society.

After the Narendra Modi government announced in April 2025 its decision to conduct a caste-based survey as part of Census 2027, Gandhi reiterated his support for the exercise while simultaneously demanding transparency and a proper timeline. However, he continues to oppose the 50% reservation cap.

The Congress views the issue of the caste census as a crucial element of the social justice agenda, especially for Other Backward Classes, Dalits, and Adivasis.

Tension Peaks Over Caste Census Questionnaire

The latest imbroglio around the contentious questionnaire adds fuel to the fire to the already existing political tiff over Caste Census 2027.

While the Union government prepares to include caste-based questions for the first time in Census 2027, the Congress has raised concerns over the efficacy of the proposed methodology.

The party has questioned the ability of the current questionnaire to capture accurate data, arguing that a census exercise is not useful if the methodology fails to account for nuances in the definition of caste across different regions.

As such, the Congress has demanded detailed explanations on the methodology for classifying caste categories in Census 2027.

What Congress Asks of the Modi Government

The demands of the Congress can be broadly grouped into three key areas:

• Scrapping the questionnaire proposed by the Union government and conducting wider consultations over the design of the caste census
• Adopting more standardised methodologies to collate and classify caste data
• Making the process more transparent and involving more stakeholders in the process
• The Congress feels the Modi government’s current approach will lead to an inaccurate portrayal of the country’s social demographics which, in turn, will have adverse consequences for policymaking pertaining to reservations and welfare.
• With the Caste Census 2027 drawing closer, the controversy around the questionnaire is likely to intensify, with the Congress vowing to keep the spotlight on the issues of OBC, caste, and social justice.