Former DGP urges Centre to assign Unique Identification Numbers to all OBC communities before nationwide caste census
BC leaders call for scientific methodology, public consultations and transparent enumeration process
THE JOURNALIST POST | Hyderabad | July 11, 2026 : Former Director General of Police Dr. J. Purnachandra Rao, IPS (Retd.), has urged the Union Government to assign a Unique Identification Number (UIN) to every Other Backward Class (OBC) community before commencing the nationwide caste census, warning that the exercise may fail to generate reliable and policy-relevant data without a standardized caste coding system. Addressing the media in Hyderabad, Dr. Rao made the remarks after T. Chiranjeevulu, IAS (Retd.), Chairman of the BC Intellectuals Forum, explained the contents of a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking reforms in the proposed caste census process.
Dr. Rao stated that the nationwide caste census, estimated to cost nearly ₹12,000 crore, is being funded by taxpayers and therefore must be conducted transparently, scientifically and in consultation with the communities it seeks to enumerate. He questioned the rationale of collecting caste-wise data without first assigning standardized caste codes, despite the Union Government announcing its intention to undertake a nationwide caste census.Referring to the experiences of Bihar and Telangana, where standardized caste coding was adopted during caste surveys, Dr. Rao said there were no technological or administrative barriers to implementing a similar system across the country. He remarked that the challenge was not one of technology or expertise but of political will.
Highlighting the importance of accurate caste data, Dr. Rao observed that OBC communities have historically remained underrepresented in governance despite constituting a significant proportion of India’s population. He argued that the absence of credible caste-wise data has weakened evidence-based policymaking and deprived backward communities of their rightful share in political representation, public employment and policymaking institutions.He further maintained that achieving constitutional goals of social justice requires representation of OBC communities in proportion to their population. According to him, strengthening OBC representation would also reinforce the constitutional rights and interests of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).Calling for collective action, Dr. Rao appealed to Backward Class organisations across Telangana to unite under the leadership of T. Chiranjeevulu to press for the introduction of standardized caste codes before the census begins. He also urged both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress to clearly state their positions on the issue, emphasizing that a scientific caste census should rise above party politics.Dr. Rao also criticized both national parties for failing to demonstrate the same urgency on OBC-related issues as they have on other major policy initiatives. He stressed that unless a standardized coding mechanism is introduced, the forthcoming caste census may not provide the reliable and actionable data necessary for effective governance.
Earlier, T. Chiranjeevulu explained that the memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister sought the assignment of a Unique Identification Number (UIN) for every caste, revision of the Phase-II Population Enumeration Schedule, preparation of state-wise caste code directories, comprehensive training for census enumerators, and extensive consultations with State Governments, Backward Classes Commissions, universities, social scientists and civil society organisations before finalizing the census questionnaire.Supporting the memorandum, BC Political Front Chairman Balagoni Balaraj Goud, Dr. G. Kiran Kumar, Professor at the Central University and National President of the All India OBC Association (AIOBCA), along with several BC leaders, urged the Union Government to adopt standardized caste coding to ensure the accuracy, credibility and policy relevance of the forthcoming caste census.
