Goa, May 2 -- India has officially announced that its upcoming national census will, for the first time in independent India, include detailed caste enumeration. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, decided to incorporate caste enumeration into the next decadal census. The announcement was made by Information Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who emphasised the government's commitment to "the values and interests of society and the country."

The decision to include caste enumeration in India's national census signals a historic and potentially transformative policy shift. For the first time since 1931, India will gather comprehensive data on all caste groups, moving beyond the limited focus on Sch...