The Census 2027 pre-test's "open column" for caste is criticized; 2011 SECC yielded unusable data. The author advocates a digital census with curated lists, citing Bihar's success. Despite caste's abstract nature and constitutional opposition, accurate enumeration is crucial for targeted welfare and social justice. If counted, it requires effective methodology to inform policy, not errors. The current open-ended pre-test is inadequate for this vital task.