India, May 5 -- The announcement on April 30, 2025, that India will include comprehensive caste data in its upcoming national census marks a profound turning point in the nation's history. For the first time since 1931, when India was still under British rule, the government will formally count and categorise its citizens by caste-a decision that speaks volumes about how India's relationship with this ancient social hierarchy continues to evolve.

When Information Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made the announcement, he set in motion more than just an administrative process. This census, already delayed from 2021 due to the pandemic and now expected in late 2026 or early 2027, represents a fundamental rethinking of post-independence policy. In...