In a surprise move, the Modi government has announced that caste enumeration will be part of the upcoming census. This reversal comes after years of opposition to the idea and is seen as a strategic political move ahead of key Bihar assembly elections.

BulletsIn

• Modi government announces caste census after years of opposing it
• Opposition, including Congress and RJD, shocked by sudden U-turn
• Move seen as targeting opposition’s caste-based electoral strategy
• Announcement follows a deadly terror attack in Kashmir and is timed to impact Bihar polls
• BJP leader calls it a “surgical strike” against opposition’s caste plank
• Congress, RJD, and Samajwadi Party all focused on social justice and caste politics
• Bihar has already conducted its own caste survey; other states like Telangana and Karnataka followed suit
• BJP claims it’s taking decisive action on caste issues, unlike previous governments
• RSS supports caste count for welfare, not electoral politics
• Experts suggest caste census could significantly influence OBC voter base in Bihar