Congress alleges OBC column omitted from Indian census questionnaire

Congress has raised an objection to the draft questionnaire for the upcoming Indian census, saying it fails to include a dedicated column for the Other Backward Classes (OBC). The party’s statement, released on Tuesday, characterises the omission as a deliberate move by the Modi‑led government to sideline data on socially and educationally backward groups.

According to the Congress spokesperson, the absence of an OBC field in the questionnaire could hamper the collection of accurate demographic information, which is crucial for formulating welfare schemes and assessing the impact of affirmative‑action policies. The party urged the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner to rectify the document before it is finalised for field deployment.

The census questionnaire, which is being prepared after a two‑year postponement caused by the COVID‑19 pandemic, reportedly lists categories such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other demographic markers, but does not feature a specific entry for OBCs. While the census authority has not yet issued a formal response to the Congress complaint, officials have previously indicated that the questionnaire is still under review and may undergo further revisions.

If the OBC category remains excluded, analysts warn that the data gap could affect the allocation of resources and the monitoring of socio‑economic indicators for a sizable segment of the population. The controversy adds to ongoing debates about how caste data should be captured in national surveys.

Original reporting: The Hindu (https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/obc-column-missing-from-census-questionnaire-says-congress/article71357658.ece).