“Jitni Abadi, Utna Haq?” – Caste Census to Redraw India’s Political Maps, But at What Cost?
Shimla/Delhi:
The stage is set. The Union government has formally cleared the decks for India’s first nationwide caste census since 1931, beginning October 1, 2026, in snow-bound Himalayan states like Himachal, Uttarakhand, Ladakh, and J&K. The rest of the country follows in March 2027.
But while some see it as long-overdue data for justice, others warn it may open a Pandora’s box of divisions, quota battles, and even constituency shake-ups.
Caste Census: Justice or Jigsaw?
The rationale is simple—if India’s welfare model is caste-based, accurate data is a must.
But critics argue this exercise could freeze caste identities, disrupt social balance, and unleash hyper-fragmented politics.
Congress: Championing Backward Justice—or Just Back in the Game?
Congress is all in. Rahul Gandhi’s slogan “jitni abadi, utna haq” has re-energised the party’s backward caste pitch.
With allies in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka pushing hard, Congress wants to: Reclaim OBC/SC support lost post-Mandal era
It wants to Push for revised quota slabs, corner BJP on its upper-caste image.
But the party faces heat fo gnoring caste census when in power for a decade.
“Suddenly, Congress is all about social justice? Where was this energy during UPA?” — asks a Himachal-based Dalit scholar.
BJP: Trapped Between Mandir and Mandal
The BJP walks a delicate line.
Backing the census alienates its upper-caste base. Opposing it risks losing its OBC vote engine that powers it in UP, MP, Gujarat, and Bihar.
While Modi’s OBC identity helps as a political shield, the data could reveal stark gaps in backward representation across in many institutions and ministries.
“We can’t say no, but we’re not shouting yes either,” says a BJP MP in Lucknow.
Himachal: Hills May Be Quiet, But Tensions Are Bubbling
In Himachal—one of the first states to undergo caste enumeration in October 2026—the buzz is growing.
In SC-dominated pockets of Chamba, Sirmaur, and Mandi, communities see the census as a shot at justice.
Among upper castes in Kullu, Kangra, and Hamirpur, there’s deep unease over the future of the 10% EWS quota.
But the biggest anxiety in Himachal? Will this lead to delimitation?
With Parliament due for seat redistribution post-2029, many fear the caste census could be used to:
Redraw assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies
Reduce political influence of upper hill districts
Tilt reservation rosters further in favour of larger backward populations
“Today it’s data. Tomorrow, it’s power-sharing,” says a senior Congress MLA from upper Shimla.
“People fear they’ll lose what little say they have in this lopsided system.”
What’s Coming Next?
Reservation Quake: New demands for quota increases and caste-specific schemes
Micro-identity Politics: Every sub-caste could ask for a separate slice.
Delimitation Flashpoint: States like Himachal, Uttarakhand, and even Rajasthan fear loss of legislative seats based on fresh caste/demographic math.
The Real Risk? India might end up codifying caste divisions for the next 50 years, instead of moving beyond them.
“We’re trying to heal a 2,000-year wound with a spreadsheet,” says a former Census Commissioner.
The caste census is India’s most radical truth-telling exercise. It could fix broken policies—or shatter the very idea of representative democracy.
In Himachal and beyond, what begins as a count might end as a contest for political survival.⁷
