New Delhi, Sept. 10 -- The Congress has raised fresh objections to the questionnaire for Census 2027, questioning the government's approach to several questions and alleging that the exercise has been designed in a way that could affect the quality and usefulness of the data collected.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh criticised the Census questionnaire, describing its intent as "very dubious". He said some of the questions were unnecessary, while others, particularly those concerning caste and the details of a person's parents, raised serious concerns. Ramesh specifically objected to the way the caste question has been framed. The Congress has argued that using an open-ended format instead of a predefined list or drop-down menu could create inconsistencies in the data, as people belonging to the same caste may provide different names, spellings or descriptions.
The party had previously described this as a serious flaw and alleged that the format could make it difficult to accurately compile and analyse caste-related data. Ramesh also questioned the inclusion of vaccination-related questions, arguing that such information is already available through existing datasets and therefore may not need to be collected through the Census. Another concern raised by him relates to questions seeking details about a person's parents, including their names, religion and place of birth. The Congress has questioned the need for collecting such information as part of the Census exercise. The criticism comes amid broader concerns over changes being introduced in Census 2027. The Population Enumeration phase is being advanced in four states that are scheduled to hold Assembly elections, while the questionnaire also contains several questions that have not featured in earlier Census exercises.
Some former Census officials have expressed concerns over the quality and utility of the data that could emerge from the revised questionnaire. Questions have also been raised about the potential relationship between the Census, the National Population Register and the proposed National Register of Citizens. The Congress has repeatedly demanded that the caste census be conducted in a manner that produces reliable and usable data. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had earlier written jointly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising objections to the existing format and seeking changes to the caste enumeration process.
The latest criticism builds on those objections, with the party arguing that the Census should collect data in a clear and scientifically reliable manner. Ramesh said the current approach had undermined the purpose of the Census, while reiterating the party's concerns over the design of the caste question and other details being sought from citizens. The government has not indicated that the questionnaire will be withdrawn or substantially changed in response to the Congress's objections. The Census 2027 exercise is scheduled to include caste enumeration, making the format and methodology of the caste-related questions particularly significant.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.