India’s first digital census. Modi’s database for Viksit Bharat

For the opposition, the national census has long been a tool to divide Hindu society and stoke identity politics. But for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is a means to build a developed India.

Digital means Accurate & Authenticated (Digital) Census 2025
The decennial exercise, due in 2021, was delayed — not by intent, but by circumstance. Those accusing the government of not holding the census overlook the grim reality of 2020–21, when the world was fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. In those trying times, Prime Minister Modi stood like a rock — offering emotional strength and delivering free vaccines to all.


Traditional census preparations naturally took a backseat. Even in 2022, elections and residual pandemic effects persisted. But work was underway behind the scenes. With PM Modi’s re-election in 2024, the idea of a transformative digital census has gathered steam.

This time, the census will not be about division, but inclusion. Not about political benefit but verified accuracy. It will correct old errors, move away from historical mischiefs, and reflect PM Modi’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.”

Correcting Past Wrongs and Exposing Political Opportunism
Today’s youth may not recall the Mandal Commission years, but those above 40 certainly do. They remember how the Congress-led governments, especially under Rajiv Gandhi, opposed pro-backward policies. Despite receiving the Mandal Commission report in 1980, the Congress sat on it for a decade.

It was only when BJP-backed Prime Minister V.P. Singh took charge that the Mandal recommendations were implemented. And yet, Rahul Gandhi’s Congress continues to exploit caste sentiment—talking about a “caste census” while ignoring the fact that a similar caste-based enumeration was conducted in 2011 under the UPA. That data was never made public. Was it politically inconvenient?

Now, as the Modi-led NDA government prepares for a historic digital census, opposition parties are scrambling to claim credit and spread confusion.

Breaking Free from the Colonial Mindset
British rulers implemented caste-based censuses as part of their “Divide and Rule” policy. Their goal was never to empower Indians, but to dominate them. Shockingly, the Nehru-led post-Independence government made no radical departure from this colonial mindset.

It wasn’t until 2014 — with Modi’s rise — that a bold shift began. Whether it was supporting Bihar’s caste survey under CM Nitish Kumar or enabling digital infrastructure to deliver welfare directly, PM Modi’s policies have consistently prioritized empowerment over appeasement.

Even opposition leaders have now admitted on record that the 2011 UPA census failed to capture the kind of caste data the Modi government is preparing to collect — a striking acknowledgment of past failures.

Digital Census : A Game Changer for India
This census will not just be an enumeration exercise — it will become a living, breathing digital database. It will record the size, geography, gender distribution, and socio-economic status of every social group — available in real time for policymakers.

It will support goals like One Nation, One Election. It will also help in redrawing electoral boundaries and improving seat reservation frameworks for women and backward classes — something that was long overdue due to outdated census data.

India’s Delimitation Commission was frozen under the 42nd Amendment in 1976 until 2000 and again through the 84th Amendment in 2002 until 2026. This meant policies for representation and welfare were based on obsolete data. The 2025 census, expected to be released in 2026, will finally correct this.

From birth to employment to taxation — every policy area will benefit from this data-rich census.

The writer is National Secretary, BJP


(Disclaimer: Views are personal)