The record
Written from the 1 report below. Nothing here is unsourced.
- Jharkhand Congress held a protest march in Ranchi on September 16, 2026, demanding a separate column for Other Backward Classes in the Census 2027 questionnaire.
- The march, led by state Congress chief Keshav Mahto Kamlesh, started from Bapu Vatika at Morabadi ground and ended near the Lok Bhavan, with ministers, MPs and MLAs taking part.
- A 10-member Congress delegation later met Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar and submitted a memorandum seeking OBC data on population and socio-economic status through the caste census.
- State Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore said the OBC population is around 65% in the country and questioned why there is a column for STs and SCs but not for OBCs.
- The demand matters because the second phase of the 2027 Census, scheduled from February 9 to 28, will record respondents' caste, and OBC figures could shape future policy and representation decisions.
What to watch next
- Whether the Governor forwards the Congress delegation's demand to the Central Government
- The final wording of the 40 notified census questions on caste for the second phase
- Similar OBC column demands from other parties or states ahead of the February 2027 enumeration
Who said what1
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Radhakrishna Kishore
State Finance Minister of Jharkhand
1 quote · 1 outlet
“There is a column for ST and SC, then why not for OBCs, who contributed significantly to the country’s growth”
In the article
…population data for the OBC community would strengthen the factual basis for policy formulation and decisions regarding representation. Mr. Kishore pointed out that the OBC population is around 65% in the country. “ There is a column for ST and SC, then why not for OBCs, who contributed significantly to the country’s growth ,” he said. Field visits for house-listing and household data collection under the first phase of Census 2027 started on May 16 and were completed on June 14, 2026, in Jharkhand. The 2027 Census exercise in the State is…
Coverage1
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Named India · Government of India · Amba Prasad · Indian National Congress · Irfan Ansari · Keshav Mahto Kamlesh · Nishant Jaiswal · Radhakrishna Kishore · Santosh Kumar Gangwar · Yogendra Yogi
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