Census 2027 ‘Totally Perverted’, Intent Dubious: Congress

Congress Questions Census 2027 Methodology

The Congress has launched a fresh attack on the Centre over the methodology being adopted for Census 2027, calling the exercise “totally perverted” and questioning the intention behind the questionnaire.

Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh made the remarks on Thursday, September 10, while responding to reports about the Census schedule and concerns raised by former Census officials over the quality and purpose of the data being collected.

Jairam Ramesh Raises Questions Over Government Intent

Ramesh alleged that the intent behind the current Census exercise was “very dubious”. He criticised several questions in the questionnaire, describing some as unnecessary and others as potentially problematic.

According to Ramesh, the caste question was among those he considered problematic, while questions concerning vaccination were described as superfluous because similar datasets already exist.

He also questioned the inclusion of information concerning the names, religion and places of birth of respondents’ parents.

Open-Ended Caste Question Becomes Major Flashpoint

One of the biggest points of disagreement between the Congress and the Centre is the method of recording caste information.

Instead of providing respondents with a prepared state-wise list or a drop-down menu, the Census format provides an open-ended field for people to enter their caste. Congress leaders have argued that this could create inconsistencies because the same caste may have different names, spellings or sub-caste classifications in different regions.

The party has therefore demanded a more structured mechanism for collecting caste data so that the eventual database is reliable enough for policymaking.

Congress Had Earlier Written to PM Modi

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi have also raised concerns over the caste enumeration methodology.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two leaders objected to the open-ended nature of the caste question and argued that inaccurate or inconsistent data could undermine the purpose of conducting a caste census.

The Congress has maintained that accurate caste data is important for designing policies related to social justice, representation and welfare.

Concerns Over NPR and NRC

The controversy extends beyond the caste question. Opposition leaders and some former Census officials have raised concerns over the inclusion of several questions that resemble information previously sought under the National Population Register (NPR).

An Indian Express analysis noted that several new or modified questions in the Census questionnaire overlap with information contained in the NPR schedule, including details relating to nationality, parents and certain identity documents.

The Congress has questioned whether such information could eventually have implications beyond the traditional population-counting exercise.

Government Maintains Census Data Is Confidential

The Centre, however, has maintained that Census data is collected under a legal framework that protects the confidentiality of individual information.

According to the government, individual-level Census information is protected under the Census Act. The law provides safeguards restricting the public disclosure and use of personal Census information.

The government has also maintained that Census 2027 is a centrally coordinated statistical exercise conducted with the cooperation of states and Union Territories.

Why the Caste Question Matters

The inclusion of caste in Census 2027 is politically significant because it will be the first decennial Census since Independence to formally collect caste information across the population.

The decision has been welcomed in principle by several parties that have long demanded comprehensive caste data. However, the methodology used to collect and classify that information has now become a major political issue.

The accuracy of the eventual data could have implications for future debates over reservation, welfare schemes and representation.

Questions Over Data Quality

Critics fear that an open-ended format could produce a very large number of variations in caste names and spellings, making the subsequent classification and analysis difficult.

An explainer by The New Indian Express noted that the Centre's decision to use an open-ended caste question has triggered concerns about data consistency, while officials have argued that the country's diverse caste lists make a single central drop-down menu difficult to implement.

The government’s position is that Central and state OBC lists do not always match, making a universally applicable predefined list complicated.

Census Schedule Advances in Four States

The controversy comes as the government has also announced an early population-enumeration schedule for four poll-bound states.

According to the Registrar General of India’s schedule, enumeration in Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and parts of Uttarakhand will take place from December 1, 2026, to January 4, 2027. The main exercise in most other parts of the country is expected to begin in February 2027.

Congress has questioned the timing of the advance in poll-bound states and alleged that political calculations could be involved. Those claims are political allegations and have not been established as fact.

Opposition Seeks a More Reliable Census

The Congress has argued that the Census should remain a credible and scientifically robust statistical exercise.

The party's criticism centres on two broad concerns: whether caste data will be collected accurately enough to be useful, and whether the additional questions could serve purposes beyond conventional population enumeration.

The government, meanwhile, has defended the questionnaire and the broader structure of Census 2027.

Political Debate Likely to Continue

With Census 2027 becoming increasingly linked to debates over caste, social justice, NPR and data privacy, the issue is likely to remain politically contentious.

The Congress is expected to continue pressing the Centre for changes to the caste enumeration methodology, while the government faces the task of ensuring that the massive data-collection exercise is implemented consistently across the country.

Conclusion

Congress has intensified its criticism of Census 2027, with Jairam Ramesh calling the exercise “totally perverted” and questioning the government’s intent. The party’s principal concerns involve the open-ended caste question, the inclusion of additional personal information and possible links with the NPR. The Centre, however, has defended the Census framework and stressed the confidentiality of individual data. As the enumeration process moves forward, the accuracy, transparency and purpose of the exercise are likely to remain major subjects of political debate.