Congress to Hold Raj Bhavan March in Ranchi on September 16, Seeks Separate OBC Census Category

The demand for a separate category for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the upcoming caste-based census is set to take a political turn in Jharkhand, with the state Congress announcing a march to Raj Bhavan in Ranchi on September 16.

Senior Congress leaders, ministers, legislators, office-bearers and a large number of party workers are expected to participate in the march. After reaching Raj Bhavan, a Congress delegation will submit a memorandum to the Governor outlining the party's demands.

The Congress is seeking a separate category or column for OBCs in Census 2027 so that their population and socio-economic status can be accurately recorded. The party argues that without reliable data on the size and condition of the OBC population, it would be difficult to frame effective policies related to reservation, education, employment and welfare schemes.

Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Keshav Mahato Kamlesh said a caste census should go beyond simply counting communities. He maintained that detailed and reliable data on the OBC population and their social and economic conditions would be essential for evidence-based policymaking.

Ranchi district Congress president Kameshwar Yadav has specifically demanded that OBCs be given a separate category in Column 10 of Census 2027, similar to the existing identification of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. He also called for a scientifically verified list of castes with standardised digital codes to ensure greater accuracy in the enumeration process.

According to the Congress, census data should help assess the social, economic and educational status of different communities, along with their access to employment and political representation. Such information, the party says, would provide a stronger basis for designing targeted welfare and affirmative-action policies.

The party has appealed to its workers and supporters to reach Ranchi in large numbers for the September 16 march. Congress leaders said the campaign for greater OBC representation and social justice would continue beyond the proposed protest.

The proposed march comes amid a wider political debate over the need for updated caste and socio-economic data to guide affirmative action and welfare policies.