Revanth Seeks Centre’s Caste Census Timeline
CM says Centre is implementing Rahul Gandhi’s idea
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has demanded that the Centre announce a definitive timeline for conducting and completing a national caste census alongside the upcoming population census. He stressed the need for clarity on both the process and purpose of the caste census, stating that it should lead to enhanced reservations for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes communities proportionate to their population.
“The Centre must specify when the caste census will begin and when it will be completed. Simply conducting it will not serve the purpose,” Revanth Reddy said at a press conference here. “Data must be used to enhance reservations accordingly. The Centre should also clarify whether it is willing to break the 50 per cent upper cap on reservations to accommodate this."
Calling for a broad consensus on the methodology of the caste census, the Chief Minister demanded that the Centre constitute a group of ministers (GoM) to consult with state governments and relevant stakeholders. He also recommended forming an expert committee comprising officials and intellectuals to guide the process.
Revanth Reddy offered to share Telangana’s model of caste census, which he hailed as a pioneering effort and a potential template for the nation.
“We prepared a detailed procedure for caste census in Telangana, engaged all political parties and treated it as a government programme, not a partisan initiative. We collected eight pages of information with 57 questions and completed the exercise by involving everyone. Telangana now stands at the forefront as a role model in conducting the caste census,” Revanth Reddy said.
He credited Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with championing the caste census initiative, stating that the idea emerged during his Bharat Jodo Yatra. “Rahul Gandhi called the caste census an X-ray of society. Following his vision, the Telangana government conducted it comprehensively. We thank Rahul Gandhi for his guidance,” Revanth remarked.
The Chief Minister said the state government had earlier adopted two resolutions in the Assembly, forwarding them to the Centre — one advocating for the caste census within the national census and another seeking removal of the 50 per cent reservation cap. He also highlighted the protest staged at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, where BC groups joined to demand the census, attributing the Centre's eventual decision to Congress pressure.
Criticising the BJP, Revanth Reddy questioned why BJP-ruled states had failed to conduct caste censuses despite being in power for a decade. He accused BJP leaders of political opportunism and claimed that the Modi government relied on caste census only to safeguard its coalition government at the Centre.
“We welcome the Centre’s decision to implement Rahul Gandhi’s idea of a caste census. We are pleased that Prime Minister Modi has taken a cue from him. Like Mahatma Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi has persisted peacefully to realise this goal,” Revanth Reddy said.
