Tejashwi Yadav Declares Victory After Centre Agrees to Caste Enumeration in Census
Patna, April 29, 2025 — In a significant political moment, the Union Cabinet has approved the inclusion of caste enumeration in the upcoming national population census. This long-standing demand, particularly emphasized by socialist leaders from Bihar, has been hailed as a historic win for social justice by RJD leader and former Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav.
“A 30-Year-Old Demand Finally Fulfilled”
Reacting to the announcement, Tejashwi Yadav expressed deep satisfaction and pride in a fiery address from Patna:
“It was our 30-year-old demand. It’s a victory for us—the socialists and Lalu Yadav. Earlier, all parties from Bihar had met the Prime Minister, but he rejected the demand. Today, this is proof of our strength. They had to bend before our agenda.”
This statement underlines the relentless efforts of Bihar’s political landscape—particularly the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)—to push caste data to the center of national policymaking.
What is Caste Enumeration and Why Does it Matter?
Caste enumeration refers to the process of recording the caste identity of individuals during a population census. While the Indian census collects extensive demographic data, caste-based information beyond Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) has not been officially documented since 1931.
This move is expected to:
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Provide empirical data on the socioeconomic status of OBCs and other marginalized groups.
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Allow better targeting of government schemes and welfare policies.
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Enable a more just and inclusive reservation framework.
Political Pressure That Made it Happen
The demand for caste enumeration gained momentum post-2019, with leaders from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu coming together. In 2021 and again in 2023, delegations of political leaders including Tejashwi Yadav, Nitish Kumar, and other party heads had met the Prime Minister and Home Minister.
However, the Centre consistently deferred the proposal—until now.
Tejashwi Yadav credited massive public support, coordinated political pressure, and the moral legacy of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s pro-backward caste politics for forcing the government’s hand.
Reactions Pour In Across the Country
From Political Circles:
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Lalu Prasad Yadav: “This is a win for India’s backward classes. Now let the data speak.”
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Congress leaders praised the move but also questioned the timing ahead of upcoming elections.
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BJP leaders called it a “consultative decision based on ground realities.”
From Civil Society:
Activists and social justice scholars welcomed the move as a tool for policy-making rooted in facts, not assumptions. Many emphasized that the fight doesn’t end here; the transparency of data publication and action on its findings will be the next big test.
What Happens Next?
With the cabinet’s green light, the Registrar General of India (RGI) will begin preparations to add caste-based columns in the next census forms. Pilot exercises are likely to begin by mid-2025, and the full enumeration could happen alongside the 2026 Census operations.
The government has also indicated that it will create a dedicated analytical framework to evaluate this data and use it for better delivery of welfare schemes.
A New Era of Data-Driven Social Justice
For Tejashwi Yadav and millions who support the idea of equity in representation, this is more than a policy shift—it’s a turning point in Indian democracy.
“Data will now reflect reality. No more guessing. Real numbers will drive real change,” said a jubilant RJD spokesperson.
