Reetu Raj, Beyondheadlines.

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Thursday has given the go ahead for
the Below Poverty Line (BPL) and caste census. The aim of the BPL
census is to divide the population economically into above and below
poverty line groups while the caste census will give a correct idea
about various castes in India.
The census will begin in June and cost the exchequer Rs 3,500 crore.
The last caste census was carried out in pre-Independent India in
1931.
Many regional political parties have been vociferously demanding a
caste census. saying that it would help the Centre and state
governments in developing welfare schemes targeting specific groups.