{
  "id": 328576,
  "title": "No drop-down menu, caste census format to be open-ended",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/no-drop-down-menu-caste-census-format-to-be-open-ended",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-08T23:00:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/no-drop-down-options-caste-census-format-to-be-open-ended-10824298/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Registrar General of India (RGI) has opted for an open-ended caste enumeration format instead of a drop-down menu for the upcoming caste census, which will be conducted concurrently with the population enumeration in February 2027. This format closely resembles the one used during the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC). Enumerators will simply ask respondents to state their caste without attempting to classify surnames, sub-castes, or other responses into broader caste categories. The RGI has ruled out using a dropdown menu, drawing from Central and State caste lists, particularly for Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The decision stems from concerns about the poor data quality, absence of a standardized caste registry, and flaws in the operational design during the 2011 SECC, which produced nearly 46.7 lakh distinct caste names, a significant increase from the 4,147 castes recorded in 1931. Despite the potential for producing similar results to the 2011 census, the government maintains that an open-ended question is the only way to avoid becoming the arbiter of caste identities.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "RGI chooses open-ended caste enumeration format for 2027 census.",
    "Enumerators ask respondents to state caste without classification.",
    "Decision avoids data quality issues and lack of standardized caste registry."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The open-ended caste enumeration format means the government will not impose a pre-defined caste classification on respondents, effectively leaving caste identity categorization up to individuals themselves.",
  "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."
}