Agenda:
Deliberating upon the Feasibility and Implications of Conducting a Nationwide Caste Census and its Potential Use as a basis for Future Delimitation Exercises
India is a nation of contrasts, shaped by centuries of history, caste, and regional identities. As the 2027 Census approaches, the proposal to include a full caste enumeration presents both promise and risk. Accurate caste data could ensure fair political representation, rational allocation of reserved seats, and targeted welfare for marginalized communities. But tying this data to future delimitation exercises could redraw the balance of power between states, affect parliamentary representation, and reshape the influence of regional parties. Transparency, impartiality, and careful execution will be critical to maintain social harmony and public trust. As parliamentarians, you are called to ask: Will this census and its use in delimitation strengthen democracy, or risk deepening the divides that have long shaped India’s political landscape?
Arav Maley
Speaker, Lok Sabha
I, Arav Maley, am honored to serve as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. I look forward to embracing this esteemed responsibility with dedication and integrity. I am a 12th grader with an insatiable curiosity that often drifts between Economics, Politics, and Technology, sometimes colliding into a single heated discussion. I thrive in spaces where ideas clash and grow, whether it’s managing the chaos of student life, taking the stage at quizzes and debates, or diving deep into business case studies. I thrive on questioning the unquestionable, stirring conversations that make people think, and bringing energy to every room I walk into.
This year, the Lok Sabha turns its focus to an issue with profound social and political implications—the feasibility of a nationwide caste census and its potential use as a basis for future delimitation exercises. For the first time in years, both major political blocs have converged on supporting this exercise, but consensus on principle is far easier than consensus on execution. The census raises difficult questions: Will it recalibrate reservation policies, reshape representation, or risk penalizing states that implemented population control in good faith?
As lawmakers, it falls upon us to ensure that this exercise strengthens representation without deepening divisions. Your responsibility, as the parliamentarians of the world’s largest democracy, is to design a framework that upholds equity, prevents misuse, and strengthens India’s unity by making representation fairer, not more fractured.