Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday lauded the Modi government’s decision to include caste enumeration in the forthcoming national census, calling it a “historic move” that will further the cause of social justice and empower marginalized communities.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Shah said, “The Modi government, committed to social justice, has taken a historic decision today. In the CCPA meeting held today under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a message of strong commitment towards social equality and rights of every section has been given by deciding to include caste census in the upcoming census.”

The Centre’s decision comes nearly a century after the last caste-based census was conducted in 1931. While the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) was conducted in 2011, it stopped short of a full-fledged enumeration of castes. Successive governments, including those led by Congress, have either deferred or avoided a caste census, citing administrative and political complications.

In a sharp critique of the opposition, Shah said, “The Congress and its allies opposed the caste census for decades while in power and played politics over it while in the opposition. This decision will empower all economically and socially backward classes, promote inclusion and pave new paths for the progress of the deprived.”

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), chaired by PM Modi, approved the move earlier in the day as part of the upcoming decadal census exercise. The move is being seen as a major shift in the Centre’s approach to social data collection and equity policy.