New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu)- Before the Bihar assembly elections, the government has taken a big step of political importance and has decided to conduct the census of castes in the general census in the country. This decision was taken in the meeting of the Political Affairs Committee of the Union Cabinet held here on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnav informed about the cabinet decisions at a press conference here. He said, "The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has decided today that caste census should be included in the upcoming census." Vaishnav said, "Congress governments have opposed caste census till date. Castes were not counted in all the censuses after independence. In the year 2010, the then Prime Minister late Dr. Manmohan Singh had assured in the Lok Sabha that caste census would be considered in the Cabinet. Subsequently, a cabinet group was also formed in which most of the political parties recommended caste-based census. Despite this, the Congress government, instead of caste census, thought it appropriate to conduct a survey known as SECC.
Despite all this, the Congress and the parties of the Indi alliance used the subject of caste census only for their political benefit. The Information and Broadcasting Minister said that the subject of census is mentioned at serial number 69 of the Union List of Article 246 of the Constitution and it is a subject of the Center. However, many states have conducted the census of castes through surveys. While this work has been completed in a systematic manner in some states, some other states have conducted the survey in a political and non-transparent manner. This type of survey has spread confusion in the society. Keeping all these situations in mind and ensuring that our social fabric does not come under the pressure of politics, the census of castes should be included in the original census instead of a survey. This will ensure that the society will be economically and socially strong and the progress of the country will also continue uninterrupted. Vaishnav said, “Today, on 30 April 2025, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Modi has decided that the census of castes should be included in the upcoming census. This shows that the present government is committed to the overall interests and values of the country and society.” He also said that even before this, when the provision of 10 percent reservation was made for the poor sections of the society, no tension was created in any component of the society. It is noteworthy that this decision of the government is being seen in view of the Bihar Assembly elections to be held in September-October, where the demand for conducting caste census raised by the opposition Indy alliance is gaining momentum. This decision of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Center is being considered a decision that will turn the politics of Bihar upside down.
Speaking on the decisions of the Union Cabinet on the highway from Meghalaya to Assam
, Vaishnaw said, 'The Union Cabinet has approved a high-speed corridor highway from Shillong to Silchar at an estimated cost of Rs 22,864 crore.' Apart from this, the 104 km single railway line from Tirupati to Katpadi in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu will be converted into a double line.
Government's big decision for sugarcane farmers
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said that the fair and remunerative price of sugarcane for 2025-26 has been fixed at Rs 355 per quintal. This is the benchmark price. Purchase cannot be made below this. With this decision, sugarcane farmers will get Rs 1 lakh 11 thousand 701 crore. Keeping in mind the interest of sugarcane farmers, the Economic Affairs Committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane at the rate of Rs 355 per quintal for the basic recovery rate of 10.25% for 2025-26 (October-September). In this, a premium of Rs 3.46 per quintal will be provided for every 0.1% increase in recovery over 10.25%. Also, the FRP will be reduced by Rs 3.46 per quintal for every 0.1% reduction in recovery.