Lawyers’ body urges Centre to add ‘No Caste, No Religion’ option in Census 2027
IAPL asks Centre to include a 'No Caste, No Religion' category in Census 2027, citing Telangana survey where 3.4% chose it.
The Indian Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL) has asked the Union government to introduce a separate ‘No Caste, No Religion’ (NRNC) category in the upcoming Census 2027. The demand comes from the association’s observation that many citizens do not identify with any caste or religion, yet official records do not allow them to register that choice.
In a statement released on Sunday, the IAPL pointed out that the absence of such an option in official documents has led to individuals being assigned identities they never claimed. This has affected processes such as birth registration, school admissions, and other government procedures.
The organisation highlighted that the Census has expanded over time to include newer categories, such as disability-related questions in 2001 and transgender identity in 2011. It also noted that caste enumeration, which was stopped after 1951 except for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, is being revived for Census 2027 following nationwide demands.
The IAPL asserted that people who follow no religion or belong to no caste have been part of Indian society for centuries, but their identity has never been formally acknowledged by the Census or other state institutions.
The statement referenced court cases in Telangana on this issue. It noted that the Telangana government’s comprehensive caste survey in 2024 included an NRNC option after a High Court order. Around 3.4% of the state’s population—approximately 11.96 lakh people—were recorded under that category.