How significant is the TVK-led regime’s move to hold Social Justice Survey? | Explained
The feature of an ‘open column’, where respondents can state their caste during the second phase of the Census, to be carried out in most parts of the country during February next year, has forced many parties and other stakeholders to express concerns over the utility of the whole exercise
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led regime, under Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, recently approved the formation of a multi-member panel to undertake a Social Justice Survey in Chennai (October 29, 2026). This decision aligns with the governor's earlier announcement in June 2025 that upon completion of caste enumeration by the Union Government, the State would proceed with the survey.
Political parties across the political spectrum have been advocating for a caste census or survey. However, the approach to this exercise has been a point of contention. While the DMK in power from 2021-26 advocated for conducting a caste census alongside the general Census, its chief rival, the AIADMK, during its term in 2020, established a commission to develop methodologies for collecting caste-wise data, which was not renewed following the AIADMK's term end in June 2021.
Meanwhile, the Union government had declared that caste would be enumerated during the 2027 Population Census, encompassing demographic, socio-economic, cultural and other details.
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