T.N. Assembly unanimously adopts resolution urging Centre to do away with ‘Open-Column Method’ while enumerating BCs, MBCs, and DNCs

Image used for representational purposes only | Photo Credit: C. Venkatachalapathy The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Tuesday (September 8, 2026) unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Union government to pre-load into the Census enumeration portal/application the list of BCs, MBCs, and DNCs notified by the Centre and the State governments, so as to collect the caste details during the second phase of Census 2027 solely on the basis of the names contained in such lists.The resolution urged the Centre to carry out the enumeration of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes, and Denotified Communities in the same manner as followed for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), and completely dispense with the ambiguous ‘Open-Column Method’. In this method, respondents can self-declare their caste, which the enumerator will record, as opposed to choosing one from a pre-defined list.The resolution, moved by Minister for Backward Classes Welfare V. Sampathkumar, said considering that the collection of caste-wise details of Other Backward Classes had been omitted in the censuses conducted post-Independence, it was essential to obtain accurate details based on the lists of BCs, MBCs, and DNCs notified by the Union and State governments as per the Constitution.All the members present in the House supported the resolution. Published - September 08, 2026 02:18 pm IST