Congress OBC Council Calls for Nationwide Caste Census

Rapid Summary

• Event: The AICC OBC Advisory Council meeting was chaired by Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah at Bharat Jodo Bhavan, KPCC office in Bengaluru on July 15-16, 2025.
• Resolution Passed: A unanimous Bengaluru Declaration calling for a national-level caste census conducted by the Census Commission of India, citing Telangana State’s caste survey as a model.
• Key Demands:

– Breaking the existing 50% cap on reservations to ensure adequate portrayal for OBCs in education, employment, politics, and services.
– Reservation in private educational institutions under Article 15(5) of the Constitution.

• Acknowledgment: The resolution expressed gratitude to Rahul Gandhi for advocating social justice and supporting backward classes.
• Attendees: Prominent leaders including former CMs Veerappa Moily (Karnataka), Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan), V. Narayanaswamy (Puducherry), Bhupesh Baghel (Chhattisgarh), and senior Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The unanimous call for a caste census and reforms to reservation policies reflects growing momentum toward addressing socio-economic disparities connected to caste inequities. Conducting such a census could enable more data-driven policymaking and help align affirmative action with real demographic profiles. However, proposals like breaking the existing reservation cap may ignite debates about balancing equity principles with legal precedents set by courts regarding quotas.

Reservation expansion into private educational institutions raises questions about implementation feasibility given potential resistance from stakeholders. Gratitude directed at Rahul Gandhi underlines political positioning within Congress’s pursuit of redefining its role as an advocate for marginalized communities ahead of key elections.

These developments hold meaning as they bring issues like systemic inclusivity into public discourse while revealing potential political strategies aimed at consolidating backward class support across states.

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