Indian Congress opposition to 2027 Census

The Congress party has leveled several accusations against the Modi government regarding the upcoming 2027 Census, specifically concerning the inclusion of caste data. In August 2026, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh and OBC department chief Anil Jaihind alleged that the government was attempting to sabotage the census by omitting structured mechanisms for caste selection, such as drop-down menus. They argued that the current questionnaire lacks dedicated provisions for respondents to identify as Other Backward Classes (OBCs), which could prevent accurate assessments of socio-economic status.

By September 2026, the criticism intensified. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh described the census process as ‘totally perverted’ with ‘very dubious’ intent, labeling certain content as ‘worthless, superfluous and diabolical.’

In addition to the format of caste enumeration, concerns were raised by former officials regarding the quality of data collection and potential links between the census, the National Population Register, and the National Register of Citizens. The party also noted the government’s decision to advance the Population Enumeration phase in four states facing upcoming elections. Leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have formally requested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi ensure the census is conducted properly.