Centre approves caste count in census, clears ₹22,864 Cr highway project

In a landmark move, the Indian government has approved the inclusion of caste data in the upcoming national Census, marking a major policy shift after decades of debate.

Announcing the decision, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said this step will ensure transparency and consistency, moving away from politically driven surveys conducted in the past. “Previous surveys lacked uniformity and raised doubts in society. By officially including caste enumeration in the Census, we aim to strengthen the country’s social and economic foundation,” he said.

This is the first time since Independence that caste will be officially counted in the Census. Although there were discussions and even a separate survey in 2010 during the UPA regime, a formal caste census never materialized.

Vaishnaw clarified that Census is a Union subject under the Constitution (Entry 69, Union List, Seventh Schedule) and accused previous governments of using caste counts as a political tool. He stated the new Census would be a fair and scientific process.

Big Infrastructure Push: ₹22,864 Crore Highway Project Cleared

The Cabinet also gave the green light to a massive ₹22,864 crore greenfield highway project, connecting Mawlyngkhung near Shillong in Meghalaya to Panchgram near Silchar in Assam.

This 166.8-km four-lane, access-controlled highway (part of NH-06) will be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). The project includes 144.8 km in Meghalaya and 22 km in Assam, and is expected to significantly cut travel time between Guwahati and Silchar.

The highway will also improve connectivity to Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, and the Barak Valley, supporting industries in Meghalaya’s cement and coal belts.

Sugarcane FRP Hiked for 2025–26

In a move set to benefit over 5 crore sugarcane farmers, the Cabinet has approved an increase in the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane to ₹355 per quintal (at a recovery rate of 10.25%) for the 2025–26 sugar season starting October 1.

This is a 4.41% hike from the current FRP of ₹340 per quintal. For every 0.1% rise in recovery above 10.25%, farmers will get an additional ₹3.46 per quintal. For lower recoveries, the same amount will be deducted—but no deductions will be made for recovery rates below 9.5%, where farmers are guaranteed a minimum of ₹329.05 per quintal.

With production costs estimated at ₹173 per quintal, the new FRP offers a 105.2% return over costs, the government said.

The decision follows recommendations from the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and discussions with stakeholders and states. As of April 28, sugarcane farmers have been paid ₹85,094 crore out of ₹97,270 crore in dues for the 2024–25 season.

The Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association welcomed the move, estimating a ₹20,000 crore boost in farmer earnings for the upcoming season. However, it also cautioned that higher FRP will increase input costs for sugar mills and called for an aligned rise in sugar's minimum selling price and ethanol procurement rates to avoid financial stress for the industry.