Kerala Latin Catholic Council Seeks Central, State OBC Lists in 2027 Census

KOCHI, October 24, 2026: The Kerala Region Latin Catholic Council (KRLCC) has urged the Union government to incorporate the officially notified Central and Kerala State Other Backward Classes (OBC) lists into the 2027 Census questionnaire to ensure consistent recording of caste and community details.

In a representation to the Census Commissioner under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the council proposed a digital system that would allow respondents to identify their communities using the official names listed by the Central and state governments.

KRLCC Vice President and Political Affairs Convener Joseph Jude and General Secretary Fr. Dr. Jiju George Arakkathara said a uniform mechanism was necessary to prevent variations in the recording of community names and improve the reliability of Census data.

The council cited the 105th Constitutional Amendment, enacted in 2021, which restored the power of state governments to prepare and maintain lists of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes for their respective purposes. It argued that the Census system should therefore accommodate both Central and state OBC lists.

The representation warned that an open-ended field for caste or community details could lead to the same community being recorded under different names, undermining data consistency.

To address this, the KRLCC proposed a state-wise drop-down menu or an equivalent digital facility displaying the officially recognised names of communities included in the Central OBC list and the Kerala State OBC list. It also called for a provision allowing respondents whose communities are not listed, or whose community names are ambiguous, to enter their details separately.

The council specifically sought accurate representation of the official nomenclature used for Kerala’s Latin Catholic communities in the relevant lists. It also recommended consultations with the Kerala government, departments responsible for backward-class lists and concerned community organisations while finalising the Census system.

The KRLCC said accurate community data was essential for public policy, development planning and the implementation of welfare schemes. Reliable information, it added, would help assess the socio-economic conditions of backward communities and inform policies addressing their needs.

By Joseph Jude, KRLCC