Sharad Pawar Backs Caste Census, Suggests Raising 50% Reservation Cap

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar on Thursday voiced support for Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s call for a caste census, emphasizing that the NCP has advocated for such an initiative for three years. Pawar argued that a caste census could reveal important insights and potentially lead to raising the current reservation cap of 50%.

“Our stance has been clear. We have been pushing for a caste census for three years,” said Pawar. “Once the facts are out, it may become essential to raise the 50% reservation limit, as a clearer picture will emerge.”

Earlier, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to endorse a caste census to address the representation of marginalized communities. He further expressed a commitment to dismantling the 50% reservation cap to advance social justice.

During a meeting in Hyderabad on Tuesday, Gandhi questioned the lack of data on the representation of Dalits and OBCs (Other Backward Classes) in areas like business and the judiciary. His call aligns with the Congress party and the INDIA bloc’s longstanding advocacy for a nationwide caste census as a step toward inclusivity.

In a notable move, Telangana is currently conducting its first-ever caste census. Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar announced that the survey, set to run from November 6 to November 30, aims to gather comprehensive demographic data, with enumerators assigned to survey 150 households each. “This fulfills an electoral promise to conduct a caste survey that will inform future decisions to support these households,” Prabhakar explained.

The push for a caste census continues to gain traction among opposition leaders, who view it as a progressive step toward social equity in India.