No Unique OBC Codes, No Census 2027!

Hyderabad- The All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA) organised a press meet today at Bhasheerbagh Press Club, Hyderabad, at 3:00 PM to highlight serious concerns regarding the proposed caste enumeration methodology for Census 2027 and its implications for the representation and rights of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). OBC leaders, experts and representatives of various organisations strongly opposed the proposed method of caste enumeration and demanded a scientifically accurate, transparent and comprehensive enumeration of all OBC communities.

The meeting unanimously demanded that Census 2027 should not proceed without assigning unique and standardized codes to every OBC caste, sub-caste and community. The participants warned that the absence of proper and distinct caste codes could result in misclassification, duplication, omission and undercounting of OBC communities, thereby adversely affecting reservations, welfare schemes, political and institutional representation, and future policy decisions based on census data.

Rajya Sabha MP and Supreme Court Counsel Shri P. Wilson strongly emphasized the need for a transparent and comprehensive national OBC caste coding system. He stated that such a system should be prepared through consultations with state governments, subject experts, sociologists, caste researchers and community organisations so that every OBC caste and community is properly identified and recorded. He cautioned that inaccurate or incomplete caste data would have serious consequences for social justice and constitutional rights.

The speakers demanded that the government immediately halt the Census 2027 process concerning caste enumeration until unique OBC caste codes are finalized. They called for the preparation of a transparent national OBC caste list with standardized codes, proper classification of castes, sub-castes and communities, extensive state-wise consultations and the involvement of experts and representatives of OBC organisations. They stressed that accurate and scientific OBC population data is essential for ensuring fair representation, effective implementation of reservations and evidence-based welfare and development policies.

The participants further warned that conducting caste enumeration without a clear and standardized coding mechanism would undermine the very purpose of collecting caste data and could perpetuate historical undercounting and misrepresentation of OBC communities. They asserted that the government has a constitutional and social responsibility to ensure that every OBC community is accurately identified and counted.

The speakers made it clear that if the government fails to address these concerns and proceeds without providing unique and standardized OBC caste codes, the organisations will pursue appropriate legal and constitutional measures to safeguard the OBC community’s right to fair, accurate and scientific enumeration.

Shri V. Srinivas Goud, Former Minister; Shri J. Purnachandra Rao, Former DGP; Shri T. Chireenjuvulu, Former IAS Officer and Chairman, BC Intellectuals Forum; Dr. G. Kiran Kumar, National President, All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA); Shri Ganesh Goud, Telangana State President; Shri Rakesh Dutta; Shri Jayanth Yadav; and Shri Rajanikanth Goud, among others, participated in the press meet and expressed their support for the demand for transparent, scientific and comprehensive OBC enumeration in Census 2027.