Cong's big promises in poll manifesto: Caste census, raising 50% quota limit & more

P Chidambaram, Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi & KC Venugopal releasing the Congress poll manifesto on Friday. (ANI photo)

The Congress on Friday released its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections keeping its focus on the five 'pillars of justice' (Paanch Nyay). Caste census, legal guarantee for MSP and passing a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs are among the key promises made by the Congress in its manifesto.

Titled 'Nyay Patra', the Congress poll manifesto was released by senior party leader P Chidambaram in presence of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and party MP Rahul Gandhi among others. The manifesto emphasized the guarantees made by the party to the people as part of its poll promises for 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The five pillars of justice that the party focussed on are 'Yuva Nyay', 'Naari Nyay', 'Kisaan Nyay', 'Shramik Nyay' and 'Hissedari Nyay'.

Here are the key promises in the Congress poll manifesto:

1. Pass constitutional amendment to raise 50 per cent cap on reservations for SC, ST and OBC.
2. Implement 10% quota in jobs, educational institutions for EWS (economically weaker sections) for all castes & communities without discrimination.
3. Conduct nationwide socio-economic and caste census to enumerate the castes and sub-castes and their socio-economic conditions.
4. Launch Mahalakshmi scheme to provide Rs 1 lakh per year to every poor Indian family as an unconditional cash transfer.
5. Give legal guarantee to MSP announced by govt every year as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission.
6. Legal recognition for LBTQA+ community.
7.  Abolish Agnipath programme and direct Armed Forces to resume normal recruitment to achieve full sanctioned strength.
8. Work to restore the status quo ante on our borders with China and to ensure that areas where both armies patrolled in the past are again accessible to our soldiers.
9. Mend relations with the Maldives and work with Myanmar to protect the political and human rights of the people of the nation.
10. Adopt Rajasthan model of cashless insurance up to Rs 25 lakh for universal healthcare.

The Congress has also promised to fill nearly 30 lakh vacancies in sanctioned posts at various levels in the central government. In addition, the party said it guarantees a new 'right to apprenticeship act' to provide one-year apprenticeship to every diploma holder or graduate below age of 25.

Appealing to people to look beyond religion, language, caste and choose wisely to install a democratic government, the party said the Lok Sabha elections present an opportunity to radically the change the style of governance that has been in evidence over the past decade.