NEW DELHI / CHANDIGARH — The commencement of the digital phase for Census 2027 has been met with a wave of institutional protest, as backward class advocacy groups and political leaders decry the absence of a dedicated “OBC” category in the government’s new self-enumeration portal.
The controversy highlights a deepening divide over the methodology of India’s first “digital-first” census, with critics alleging that the current format intentionally obscures the socio-economic reality of the Other Backward Classes (OBC).
“A Big Betrayal”: Congress Leads the Charge
Leading the outcry, Gurbhej Tibbi, National Coordinator of the Congress OBC Department, issued a scathing press statement characterizing the omission as a “big betrayal” of the backward classes.
Tibbi argued that a comprehensive caste-based census is the only way to reveal the “real social, economic, and educational status” of the various demographics in India. He alleged that by folding OBC data into a generic “Others” category, the Central Government is attempting to prevent these communities from understanding their true numerical strength and constitutional rights.
“If the government truly stands for social justice, it must collect accurate data. The absence of this column suggests a fear of the OBC community becoming aware of its power,” Tibbi stated.
The Digital Deadline
Under the current Phase 1 (House listing and Housing Census), the Government of India has introduced a self-enumeration facility. This allows citizens to log into an official portal and provide their household information directly.
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Deadline: The facility for online data entry is scheduled to remain open until May 14, 2026.
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The Conflict: While the form contains specific markers for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), it currently lacks a distinct field for OBC/Backward Classes.
Punjab Government Under Fire
The protest has also taken a localized turn in Punjab. Tibbi used the platform to surround the state government, alleging that they have failed to act on repeated instructions from the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).
According to the Congress leader, the NCBC has sent multiple directives to the Punjab administration to implement necessary reservations and welfare measures for the BC community, yet “justice remains elusive.”
Comparison of Enumeration Categorization
| Category | Status in 2027 Online Form | Impact on Data |
| Scheduled Castes | Included | Clear demographic and economic mapping. |
| Scheduled Tribes | Included | Targeted policy-making remains possible. |
| OBC / Backward Classes | Excluded | Data is merged into “Others,” preventing specific analysis. |
Growing Demands for Reform
The BC community and various political factions have issued a stern warning to both Central and State authorities: should the OBC column not be immediately integrated into the self-census portal, they will be forced to launch a nationwide struggle.
As the May 14 deadline approaches, the pressure is mounting on the Ministry of Home Affairs to decide whether to update the digital infrastructure now or risk a large-scale boycott of the physical enumeration phase scheduled for 2027.
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