NEW DELHI: Centre on Sunday said it has initiated the exercise to conduct the census and an announcement in this regard is expected soon while indicating it had an "open mind" on adding a caste column in the decennial enumeration, which has been delayed since Covid outbreak. "Work on holding the census is already on and a decision in this regard is likely soon," a senior govt functionary said on the condition of anonymity. Several opposition parties and BJP allies have been demanding a caste count and RSS has said it had no problem with the exercise so long as the findings were used for welfare schemes, and not for "politics".
The functionary asserted that one nation-one election , a key govt priority, will be implemented during the current Modi govt's tenure. Rollout of women's quota , enacted last year, tied to census Modalities of holding elections to state assemblies and Lok Sabha simultaneously were being worked out, a senior govt functionary said, adding, "Definitely, one nation-one election will be implemented in this tenure itself. It will be a reality.
" In his Independence Day address last month, PM Modi had made a strong pitch for one nation-one election, contending that frequent polls were creating hurdles in the country's progress. The functionary, who didn't wish to be named, also said groundwork for holding the census has begun - it is the first time that govt has confirmed the likelihood of census being conducted shortly, as well as the possibility of including.