Hyderabad- The All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA), University of Hyderabad unit, successfully organized a Round Table Conference on the “Results of Telangana SEEEPC Survey and the Road to Caste Census 2027” at the Conference Hall, School of Social Sciences, University of Hyderabad, on Saturday.

The conference brought together eminent intellectuals, policymakers, academicians, and social activists to deliberate on the findings of the Telangana Socio-Economic, Educational, Employment and Political Caste (SEEEPC) Survey and its broader implications for social justice, policy formulation, and equitable representation.

Rajya Sabha Member and Senior Advocate P. Wilson addressed the round table virtually and raised serious concerns regarding the Union Government’s approach to the caste census. Referring to his letter dated 25.03.2026 to the Union Home Minister, he noted that the response from the Minister of State for Home Affairs failed to provide clarity on including ‘OBC’ as a distinct category in the census questionnaire.

He termed the reply as “unsatisfactory, evasive, and disappointing,” and reiterated his demand for explicitly enumerating OBCs in the census schedule. He further called for increasing OBC reservations to at least 50% in proportion to their population. This is not merely a question of administrative procedure - it is a matter of constitutional obligation, fairness, and rightful representation. Delaying justice under the pretext of incomplete data, while simultaneously refusing to collect accurate data, only exposes a contradiction that deepens inequality. He demanded the government to act with clarity and commitment: implement 50% reservation for OBCs immediately based on existing data, and simultaneously ensure proper caste enumeration by including OBC data in the census framework, so that future policies are grounded in accuracy, transparency, and true social justice.

Prof. Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd, Vice-Chairman of the Independent Expert Working Group on SEEEPC, Government of Telangana, highlighted that the Telangana caste survey represents a significant methodological shift by introducing a Composite Backwardness Index (0–126) to measure inequality. He noted that Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes recorded higher scores, indicating deeper structural disadvantage, while upper castes reflected relatively lower scores. He emphasized that moving beyond mere population enumeration is a progressive step, but requires critical scrutiny and wider public engagement to strengthen the social justice discourse.

Former bureaucrat and BC Intellectual Forum (BCIF) leader Shri T. Chireenjuvulu and Dr. Sangishetty Srinivas critically reviewed the report, observing that it appears to have underestimated the population of certain OBC castes while overestimating sections of upper castes. Despite these concerns, they noted that the report holds significant value and is likely to serve as an important methodological reference for the forthcoming national-level caste census.

Er. Ramakrishna, Chairperson, National OBC Intellectual Forum, emphasized the importance of credible caste-based data in shaping inclusive public policy. He highlighted how the SEEEPC survey provides critical insights into the socio-economic conditions of marginalized communities, particularly OBCs, and can serve as a foundation for evidence-based governance. The need for transparency, accountability, and comprehensive enumeration in the upcoming Caste Census 2027 was strongly underscored.

The panel reflected on key themes such as:

* Strengthening representation of backward classes in education, employment, and governance

* Addressing structural inequalities through data-driven policy interventions

* Ensuring inclusion of marginalized and underrepresented communities in national datasets

* The role of caste census in deepening democracy and social justice

The session was moderated by G. Kiran Kumar, National President of the All India OBC Students Association, who emphasized that “data is central to justice, and representation must be rooted in empirical realities to ensure equality and dignity for all.”

The conference concluded with a collective call for sustained advocacy towards conducting a comprehensive and transparent Caste Census in 2027, viewing it as a crucial step toward achieving substantive equality and inclusive development in India.