New Delhi, May 1 -- The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has decided that a caste-based enumeration will be part of the upcoming decadal census.

Addressing the media, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has decided today that caste enumeration should be included with the forthcoming census... it demonstrates that the government is committed to the values and interests of the society".

The announcement, which comes ahead of the Bihar assembly polls, was on top of the Opposition's agenda that has been pushing for a caste census in an effort to counter its appeal and break the rainbow coalition of Hindus that forms the bulk of the BJP's support...