{
  "id": 1865917,
  "title": "Census 2027 has ‘deeper nefarious purpose’: Congress slams questionnaire",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/census-2027-has-deeper-nefarious-purpose-congress-slams-questionnaire",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T04:33:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/census-2027-has-deeper-nefarious-purpose-congress-slams-questionnaire/article71363313.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Congress officials have accused the Census 2027 questionnaire of having a hidden agenda, alleging that the methodology for gathering caste-related data is deliberately flawed. Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, pointed out that micro questions regarding religion, parents' date of birth, and place of birth have never been asked in previous censuses. The recent census questionnaire allows respondents to declare their caste, or choose options such as \"does not want to declare caste\" and \"no caste.\"\n\nRamesh expressed concern over the lack of a drop-down menu for selecting castes in the 2027 Census, despite the Modi government's recommendation of such a feature in its affidavit to the Supreme Court in September 2021. He questioned why the 2027 Census does not include this drop-down menu, which the government had previously advocated for in its affidavit filed before the Supreme Court. Ramesh emphasized that the census is confidential, suggesting that there is a deeper, nefarious purpose behind the flawed methodology and the omission of the caste selection drop-down menu in the 2027 Census.",
  "summary": "The methodology of asking Qs on caste in Census 2027 is deliberately flawed; the micro Qs on religion, date of birth, place of birth of parents have never been asked before, said Jairam Ramesh",
  "key_points": [
    "Congress alleges Census 2027 questionnaire has hidden agenda.",
    "Micro questions on religion, parents, date of birth, and place of birth new for 2027 Census.",
    "Lack of caste selection drop-down menu despite Modi government's 2021 affidavit recommendation."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Congress officials see the Census 2027 questionnaire as having a hidden agenda, suggesting the government's actions indicate a deeper purpose beyond a straightforward census.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}