Jharkhand has renewed its long-standing demand for recognition of Sarna as a distinct religious identity in Census 2027, with Chief Minister Hemant Soren writing to the President, Prime Minister and Governor seeking its inclusion in the national enumeration framework.
In his communications, the Chief Minister stressed that Sarna represents a distinct belief system rooted in nature worship, community traditions and ancestral practices followed by a large section of the state’s tribal population. He noted that the absence of formal recognition in census categories fails to adequately capture this identity and its cultural significance.
He argued that the lack of a separate religious classification not only obscures the identity of tribal communities but also affects the accuracy of official data that informs governance and welfare policies. Recognition, he said, is essential for reflecting the true demographic and socio-cultural profile of Jharkhand.
Placing the issue within the context of the ongoing census process, Soren referred to the self-enumeration phase and urged that provisions be made to include Sarna as a separate code before the exercise advances further. According to the letters, the existing census framework does not provide a clear option for recording Sarna as a distinct religion, often leading to its placement under broader or unspecified categories.
The Chief Minister also drew attention to past trends, noting that in the 2011 Census many individuals had recorded their religion as “Sarna” through self-entry despite the absence of a dedicated code. He cited estimates suggesting that nearly 50 lakh people across multiple states identify with the Sarna faith, underscoring the scale of the issue.
The move signals a renewed push by the Jharkhand government to bring the issue to the Centre’s attention at the highest level. The demand for a separate Sarna code has remained a consistent theme in the state’s socio-political discourse, with support from various tribal groups and organisations.
In the letters, the Chief Minister further highlighted that accurate religious classification is crucial for informed policy formulation, targeted welfare measures and preservation of tribal cultural heritage. He referred to constitutional provisions relating to Scheduled Areas and tribal welfare to underline the broader governance implications.
The Jharkhand Assembly has earlier passed a resolution backing the demand for a separate Sarna code, reflecting institutional support within the state. With Census 2027 preparations underway, the state government has urged timely consideration of the proposal to ensure that tribal identities are properly reflected in national data systems.