India, Oct. 30 -- The Tamil Nadu Cabinet on Thursday approved the constitution of a multi-member commission headed by a retired High Court judge to conduct a statewide Social Justice Survey, including a caste-wise enumeration. The decision clears the way for the state's first full caste count in more than four decades.

The decision was taken at the third Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at the Secretariat in Chennai. Energy Resources and Law Minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar told reporters that the commission, which will include IAS officers, is expected to be constituted in February or March 2027, after the Union government completes the caste enumeration being carried out alongside the ongoing population census. Its...