The Government today decided to include the caste enumeration in the forthcoming census exercise. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a decision in this regard. Briefing media in New Delhi about the decision, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said some states have done this well, while some others have conducted such surveys purely from a political angle and in a non-transparent way. He added that such surveys have created doubts in society. Mr Vaishnaw said, considering all these facts and to ensure that the country’s social fabric is not disturbed by politics, caste enumeration should be transparently included in the Census instead of surveys. The Minister highlighted that it will strengthen the social and economic structure of the society while the nation continues to progress. He underlined that the move demonstrates that the Narendra Modi government is committed to the values and interests of the society and country, like in the past, when it had introduced ten per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections without causing stress in any section of the society.

Taking on the opposition Congress, Mr Vaishnaw said, the opposition party ruled governments have always opposed the caste census. The Minister said, in 2010, then Prime Minister Late Dr Manmohan Singh had assured the Lok Sabha that the matter of caste census would be considered in the Cabinet and a Group of Ministers was formed to consider this subject. He said, most of the political parties had recommended caste census, despite this, Congress government decided to conduct only a survey instead of a caste census.
Mr Vaishnaw alleged that it is well understood that Congress and its alliance partners have used Caste Census only as a political tool.
During the briefing, the Minister informed that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs(CCEA) has approved a new highway from Shillong to Silchar with the cost of 22 thousand 864 crore rupees. Mr Vaishnaw said the project will prove instrumental in the development of the North Eastern region. He also said, the length of the highway will be over 166 kilometers and it will improve connectivity to Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and the Barak valley region of Assam.
The CCEA also approved fair and remunerative price of sugarcane for sugar season 2025-26 at 355 rupees per quintal for the farmers. Mr. Vaishaw added that the decision will benefit five crore sugarcane farmers, as well as five lakh workers employed in the sugar mills and related ancillary activities.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has welcomed the decision of the Centre to conduct the Caste Census in the country. Mr. Kumar said it is a positive initiative. He said that by caste enumeration, it will exactly establish the number of various classes, and the outcome of the Caste Census will help in the formulation of development plans and their upliftment.
The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his decision to approve the decision