Political tension has escalated surrounding the framework of Census 2027. Congress has accused the Central Government of designing a deliberately flawed methodology for collecting demographic and caste details, alleging that a hidden agenda underlines the entire exercise.
Questions Raised Over Questionnaire and Privacy
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh stated on X that micro-level questions regarding religion, exact date of birth, and parents' birthplace have never been featured in this manner during previous census operations. He pointed out that census information is strictly confidential, raising serious concerns about the inclusion of highly personal family details in the new survey.
Caste Enumeration and the 40-Question Framework
While Census 2027 marks the first time since independence that caste data is being recorded, opposition leaders claim that the specific procedure for asking caste-related questions is flawed by design. The updated 40-question survey covers topics ranging from bank accounts and COVID-19 vaccination locations to household assets. Earlier, Jairam Ramesh had also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi undermined the core concept of a comprehensive caste count.
Digital Rollout and Growing Concerns
As the enumeration process begins with provisions for self-enumeration in regions including J&K and Ladakh, debate remains active. The opposition maintains that gathering granular lineage details alongside confidential data creates significant doubt regarding the overall intent of the census structure.
