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Caste count goes official: BJP seizes agenda; INDIA bloc faces strategic recalibration

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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

Mumbai: Water levels in lakes have risen due to six days of torrential rain; over a thousand trees have been uprooted by strong winds.

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Mumbai: Due to the heavy rains that have been continuing in Mumbai for the past 6 days, the water level of lakes has increased and the water level has increased in 29% of the lakes. This year, better rainfall has been recorded in the month of July compared to last year. After better rainfall, 100% of the lakes are expected to be filled by September, while 300 mm of rainfall has been recorded for 6 days from July 1, due to which Vihar Lake has been filled, Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide claimed today. He said that during the rains, BMC officials and officers were deployed to low-lying areas, including places where complaints of water accumulation were received. Along with this, BMC staff is on alert. There has been a huge increase in the number of tree fall incidents during the rains in Mumbai city, northern suburbs and western suburbs and other places. More than 1,000 tree fall incidents have been reported in the month of July. On June 30, a wall collapsed in Walkeshwar, in which one person was injured. More than 100 complaints of wall collapse and house collapse during rains have been received in 5 to 6 days.
After the collapse of a three-storey building in Mankhurd, Bhide claimed that the building was illegal while more than 5 million people live in slums. Along with this, these slums are also provided with protection till 2011. In such cases, schemes have also been implemented for them and the government also pays attention to it. Along with this, instructions have also been issued to take action against the officers who provide protection to illegal construction works and along with this, special surveillance will also be maintained in such areas. He said that during emergency situations, families trapped in floods were shifted to BMC schools and assistance was provided to them. Two deaths have been registered due to falling trees.

Bhide said that many roads were affected due to the filling of drains, but after heavy rains, many roads were shifted and many were repaired. He said that separate guidelines have been issued for construction companies during the rains, which are mandatory for them to adhere to. If anyone violates them, action will be taken against them. Concrete roads have been made public to make Mumbai free of potholes and the BMC is also active in filling potholes. Along with this, necessary instructions have been issued to BMC officials after the Main Hall tragedy. Mumbai has suffered the most damage due to winds blowing at a speed of 70 to 80 km/h. In such a situation, the BMC is also focusing on the establishment of trees. Most of the trees are on the side of the footpaths and on the roads. In such a situation, along with the cutting of trees, emphasis has also been placed on their stability. Such dangerous trees are also cut down. They are in a dangerous condition. The public is also complaining to the BMC after accidents and the BMC is also on alert mode. Many trees have also been cut down. In this, most of the complaints are found to be valid and most are not.

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Maharashtra

Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar tragedy, Strict action must be taken against the guilty; suspend the responsible ward officers: Abu Asim.

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Mumbai: The tragic incident of building collapse in Mumbai’s Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar constituency led to a heated debate in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today during the monsoon session. Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi aggressively raised the issue of the loss of innocent lives in the tragedy and corruption within the local administration. Presenting the government’s stand, Minister Ashish Shelar assured the House that a thorough investigation would be conducted and strict action would be taken against all those involved, including the guilty municipal officials. Government corruption leads to the loss of lives of the poor: MLA Abu Asim Azmi

Mumbai; Highlighting the dire situation in his constituency, MLA Abu Asim Azmi said that last night, at 8:30, a three-storey building collapsed, resulting in the death of six innocent people living in two poor families with tin sheet roofs. The police have detained Ghulam Raza, the owner of a poor house, who rented his room for Rs. 1,000. What was his fault in this, who support unauthorized construction, if not even an inch of construction can be done without bribing the municipality officers? Expressing his anger, Azmi further said, “After 1995, during the Manohar Joshi era, it was decided to stop unauthorized constructions and if anything happens, to collect demolition costs from the concerned persons and register an FIR. Yet, even after 36 years, not a single ward officer has been suspended, as the development of Govindi is only on papers. Rainwater is filling people’s houses. Moreover, the vacated transit camp sites are being sold illegally through stamp paper agreements, despite this, the municipality is not taking any action.” He demanded an immediate meeting with the ward officer and the DMC to resolve these issues and stop such illegal activities.

The guilty will not be spared: Minister Ashish Shelar
Responding to questions from MLA Abu Asim Azmi, Minister Ashish Shelar expressed deep grief over the death of six people. He said, “This is really It is a sad incident. The government is taking positive steps regarding the two issues raised by the esteemed MLA. Regarding the first point, orders will be issued regarding the landlord who was detained by the police for simply renting a house, that no action will be taken against him, if he is not guilty in this incident. Otherwise, if he is involved in it, then action will also be taken against him. Clarifying the government’s stand on unauthorized constructions, Minister Shelar assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted against all those responsible or involved in the collapse of this three-storey building and the unauthorized constructions there. Even if the officials who saved these actions belong to the Municipal Corporation, they will not be spared. If anyone is found responsible, strict legal action will be taken against them. After this discussion, Tambhai’s eyes have focused on what steps the government takes regarding unauthorized constructions and corrupt officials in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar.

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Business

Kutch Copper Ltd’s ‘Adani Copper’ becomes London Metal Exchange-registered brand

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Ahmedabad, July 7: Kutch Copper Limited (KCL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd, has earned London Metal Exchange (LME) certification for ‘Adani Copper,’ according to a statement issued by the company on Tuesday.

“Approval by the world centre for the trading of industrial metals validates KCL’s manufacturing excellence and responsible sourcing practices against strict global benchmarks, enabling Adani Copper cathodes to be delivered with warrants eligible for issuance against LME Copper futures contracts from July 10, 2026,” the statement said.

For the Adani Group, LME’s listing of Adani Copper as a Good Delivery brand for ‘Copper Grade A’ contracts places the brand alongside the world’s leading copper brands, conferring international recognition and market credibility on the Group’s entry into the metals sector and its emergence as a globally competitive producer of refined copper.

“Copper is the backbone of the global energy transition. Achieving LME brand status places Adani among the world’s leading copper producers and strengthens India’s role in building a resilient, responsible supply chain for this vital metal. Kutch Copper’s world-class infrastructure and ESG standards make this recognition both timely and well-deserved. It will enhance the global acceptance of Adani Copper. Apart from reinforcing India’s growing stature in the international metals industry, the registration is a landmark step towards self-reliance in refined copper,” Adani Enterprises’ CEO, Natural Resources, and Kutch Copper Ltd Managing Director Dr Vinay Prakash said.

An LME-brand certification is a rigorous process involving superior quality assurances — covering chemical composition, shape and weight — alongside strict responsible sourcing protocols. The LME listing enables Adani Copper cathodes to be placed on warrant in LME-approved warehouses, strengthening financing flexibility as LME-listed metal is recognised as a highly liquid asset that can be used as collateral. For the LME, the addition of Adani Copper broadens the exchange’s deliverable base with high-quality cathode from a major new production hub, deepening the liquidity and geographic diversity of the global copper market.

The $1.2 billion Kutch Copper facility with production capacity of 0.5 million tonnes — one of the world’s largest single-location custom copper smelting complexes, designed with state-of-the-art technology, advanced process automation, and sustainability-led design principles embedded across operations — strengthens domestic supply, reduces the nation’s dependence on imported copper, and advances India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ ambitions in a metal central to electrification, renewable energy and the energy transition, the Adani Group statement added.

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