Politics
Caste count goes official: BJP seizes agenda; INDIA bloc faces strategic recalibration
New Delhi, April 30: In a landmark decision with far-reaching social and political implications, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has approved the inclusion of caste enumeration in the upcoming national Census. The announcement, made by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw following a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) on Wednesday, comes amid growing political momentum around caste data and its role in public policy.
Vaishnaw, addressing the media, termed the decision as both a corrective measure and a governance reform, stating that while some states had already conducted caste surveys, many executed in politically motivated and non-transparent ways, leading to confusion and mistrust in society. “To preserve the integrity of our social fabric and ensure that caste enumeration is not misused for narrow political gains, it is essential to include it transparently within the formal Census process,” he said.
The Union Minister came heavily down on the Congress and its INDIA bloc allies, accusing them of exploiting the demand for a caste census purely for political leverage. He underscored that no caste enumeration has been included in any population census since India’s Independence, despite repeated demands.
Tracing the history, Vaishnaw reminded that in 2010, then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh assured the Lok Sabha that the Cabinet would consider the inclusion of caste data in the Census. A Group of Ministers was subsequently formed, and several parties recommended proceeding with caste enumeration.
However, despite this consensus, the UPA government did not carry out a caste census. Instead, it conducted a socio-economic survey, widely known as the SECC (Socio-Economic and Caste Census), which did not yield credible or usable caste data due to its flawed design and lack of official recognition.
This decision comes at a time when opposition parties, especially Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, have made the caste census a central electoral demand.
Rahul Gandhi, in particular, has used it as a consistent political weapon, frequently attacking the BJP for allegedly remaining silent on the issue. The inclusion of caste enumeration in the official Census effectively neutralises that political advantage, taking the wind out of Rahul’s sails just as Bihar gears up for Assembly elections, say observers.
In Bihar, where caste plays a defining role in electoral politics, the RJD-Congress alliance was preparing to make caste census a major campaign issue. However, with PM Modi-led government now taking ownership of the process at the national level, the opposition’s pitch risks being blunted. Political analysts suggest that this move could lead to internal churning within the INDIA bloc.
This move is more than a bureaucratic update — it is a calculated political and social repositioning. It reshapes the caste discourse, undercuts opposition narratives, and sets the stage for future policy changes rooted in real demographic data. As the Census process begins, all eyes will be on how the government handles the rollout, release, and response to caste-based findings.
But for now, the Modi government has seized the initiative on an issue that once formed the core of its opponents’ agenda — and in doing so, may have fundamentally changed the tone of the electoral debates leading up to 2025 and beyond.
The government also pointed to a precedent that reassures social stability: when the Modi government implemented 10 per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections (EWS) in the general category, it did not lead to social unrest. This, Vaishnaw argued, demonstrated the government’s ability to introduce socially sensitive reforms without disrupting the harmony of society.
By taking this politically sensitive yet constitutionally sound step, the Modi government not only positions itself as responsive and inclusive but also sends a clear message that it is willing to act on complex issues with strategic clarity rather than electoral opportunism.
Maharashtra
Youth are not with you, you are just doing politics, Shrikant Shinde attacks the opposition

During the debate in the Lok Sabha on the amendment bill to prevent irregularities in public examinations, Shiv Sena MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde lashed out at the opposition. He said that while the Modi government is taking decisive steps to secure the future of the youth, the opposition is merely playing politics over the students’ woes. Dr. Shinde remarked that the anger expressed by the youth should not be seen as a mere protest but as the beginning of a systemic change. No single exam determines the entire life of a student. If a student does not succeed in an exam, he should not despair but focus on the future of his life, his family and the country.
Urging the youth to draw inspiration from the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, he said that Shivaji Maharaj laid the foundation of Hindu Swarajya by conquering his first fort at the age of just sixteen. Today’s youth also have the power to change the nation. Only the right direction and a strong system are needed. Dr. Shinde said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has not only condemned the incidents of paper leaks but has also taken concrete steps to clean up the entire system. Citing the moral accountability of the government, he pointed out that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post, and now, through this amendment bill, arrangements are being made for fast-track courts so that the accused in the paper leak case are punished at the earliest. He stressed that the government’s aim is not just to imprison the culprits but to save a precious year of millions of students. Stressing the need for educational reforms, Dr. Shinde said that the result of years of hard work and the fulfillment of dreams of families should not depend on a single three-hour exam. Students should get the opportunity to appear for the exam several times a year. The government should also take steps towards developing a question bank system, reducing the increasing mental pressure on students and implementing effective regulations for the coaching industry. He said that the Mahayoti government in Maharashtra has taken a historic initiative to provide free education to the economically weaker sections and girls belonging to EC-BC categories. This government is not just making laws but is committed to comprehensive reforms in the education system. Attacking the opposition hard, Dr. Shrikant Shinde remarked that those who are now claiming to champion the youth failed to go to Jantar Mantar during the 37-day-long student protest. They feared the emergence of a new political alternative. Now, seeing their political platform slipping, they have started doing politics in the name of the youth. He challenged the opposition to first clarify whether the youth are really with them. Inciting the emotions of the students, abusing the government, and spreading misinformation does not offer any solution to the problem. In a democracy, the government interacted with the students, listened to their concerns, and even withdrew the cases registered against them in several instances. This shows the strength of democracy and the sensitivity of the Modi government. Dr. Shinde stressed that this amendment bill is not just a law to stop paper leaks but is a firm commitment to secure the future of millions of youth, ensure transparency in the examination system and bring about educational reforms. The opposition should put aside politics and stand in support of the youth of the country and their future. During the parliamentary debate on the Examination Reforms Bill, Shiv Sena MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde said that comprehensive reforms are needed in the examination system of the country. He pointed out that conducting important examinations like NEET only once a year puts unnecessary pressure on lakhs of students. Dr. Shinde noted that many students miss the examination due to illness, family reasons or other circumstances, with students from rural areas facing more difficulties in particular. In such a situation, they lose an entire year. He suggested that serious consideration should be given to conducting the NEET examination more than once a year. In many countries, such examinations are held twice a year. Implementing a similar system in India will give students a second chance and reduce mental stress. Dr. Shinde said that the systems governing not only NEET but also other competitive exams should be updated with the changing times to ensure fair and better opportunities for students.
Maharashtra
Terror in Mumbai! Zulfikar gang accused of demanding a week’s notice from a builder and killing him, Mumbai Crime Branch action, 12 goons arrested

Mumbai: The Mumbai Crime Branch has claimed to have arrested gangster Zulfikar Behlim and his brother Mohsin Behlim for demanding a ransom of Rs 25 lakh from a builder. Both of them had demanded a ransom of Rs 25 lakh from the builder and also threatened to kill him. In this regard, the builder had registered a case against gangster Zulfiqar and his brother, including 12 gangsters. Crime Branch Unit 9 laid a trap and arrested these 12 accused while collecting the ransom. A case has been registered against the accused under the Extortion and Arms Acts. The court has ordered the accused to be remanded till July 31. Zulfikar and Mohsin had created terror in Mumbai city and suburbs and had also tried to demand ransom from several builders. Therefore, the police have appealed that if this gang has demanded ransom from anyone, they can register a complaint against them with the police and the Crime Branch. This action was taken by Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti Joint Police Commissioner Anil The investigation was carried out by Kanbhare DCP Nunath Dhole and Crime Unit In-charge Sachin Pranak.
Crime
Odisha: Drug-addicted son kills father after argument over de-addiction medication

Bhubaneswar, July 28: Within 24 hours of the gruesome murder of a woman allegedly by her husband in the Chakeisiani area under Mancheswar police station limits, another brutal killing occurred in the same police station area of Odisha’s Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, with a 50-year-old man allegedly beaten to death by his drug-addicted son.
Police identified the victim as S. Duryadhan (50), while the accused, S. Debaraj (25), is his only son.
The deceased Duryadhan worked as a labour contractor.
Upon being informed, the police along with the scientific team immediately reached the crime spot and launched an investigation into the case.
Speaking to reporters, Biswaranjan Senapati, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Zone V), said, “Preliminary investigation suggests that Debaraj killed his father following a dispute over his drug use.”
He also added that accused son was a habitual brown sugar addict and had earlier been admitted to a de-addiction centre by his father.
“Following medical advice, Duryodhan used to mix the prescribed de-addiction medicine into a bidi and ask his son to smoke it whenever he would ask for any normal cigarette or bidi. However, Debaraj disliked the arrangement and frequently engaged in heated arguments with his father over the issue,” Senapati said.
The ACP said a heated argument over the issue erupted on Monday night, forcing the accused’s mother and other family members to leave the house out of fear.
According to Senapati, only the father and son were at home on Tuesday morning when they again got into an argument after the victim offered his son a bidi containing the prescribed medicine, while the latter demanded a regular bidi.
Meanwhile, the accused suddenly went into a fury after Duryadhan insisted and attacked the victim with an iron pipe. He later bludgeoned his father with a stone.
“The family members also told us that the accused has a brain tumour and often gets furious all of a sudden. He has been detained at the police station and will be produced before the court later,” Senapati added.
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