In a historic move, the Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs (CCPA) has approved the inclusion of caste-based enumeration in the upcoming decadal Census 2025. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the decision reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to transparency and inclusive governance. The move, lauded by NDA allies like JDU, LJP (RV), and RLSP, is expected to help formulate more equitable and targeted welfare policies by providing accurate data on caste demographics. Bihar's recent caste survey revealed that backward communities form nearly two-thirds of the state's population, highlighting the potential national impact of such data.

The BJP aims to counter opposition demands and consolidate its appeal among various social groups ahead of key elections. Leaders like Nitish Kumar, Chirag Paswan, and N. Chandrababu Naidu hailed the decision as a milestone in addressing socio-economic inequality. The last caste data collection was in 1931, with a flawed SECC survey in 2011 failing to deliver transparent results.