India, April 22 -- Why has the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category been excluded from the first-phase Census enumeration form, OBC organisations have asked, raising doubt over the Centre's intent just as the exercise is about to begin in the state from May. The groups have written to Union home minister Amit Shah and the Registrar General of Census seeking clarity on the issue.

The 33-point enumeration form used for the initial phase includes a question on whether a person belongs to Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST), but does not mention OBCs. The omission has triggered concern among OBC groups as the question on point number 12, is conceived as the caste based census.

"Amit Shah in his recent speech in Lok Sabha has cla...