Recently the UP Government has directed the amendment of SoPs and Police Rules to end mention of caste in the records unless required by law itself. In order to ensure identification accuracy, the name of mother would now be added along with that of father/husband². The move comes after³ the Allahabad High Court order in Praveen Chetri v State of UP and Anr⁴ and goes on to prohibit caste-based political rallies, public signs⁶.

What does it mean

Caste has become one of the strongest identifiers of who a person is. Wherever one goes, caste follows—whether through signboards, vehicles, slogans, stickers, or even police records. Caste also plays a central role in politics, shaping voting patterns and fueling caste-based rallies.

With the recent directive issued by the UP government, this equation could change. Police records will no longer record caste, and vehicles will now carry number plates free from caste identifiers. More significantly, the directive bans caste-based political rallies—a move that will face its first major test in the 2027 assembly elections.

Caste-driven politics has long been synonymous with elections in UP. The new directive, therefore, is not just a legal measure—it has the potential to reshape the very grammar of UP politics⁶. On one hand, it could weaken caste-centric parties and encourage unity beyond caste lines. On the other, it risks diluting the political representation of marginalized groups.

The timing is equally noteworthy. With the caste census on the brink, the next general elections may bring sweeping changes: implementation of delimitation, census impacts, caste census data, and fresh electoral strategies in UP. While 2029 may seem distant, the 2027 assembly elections in UP will almost certainly usher in new dynamics—and new flavors of politics.