New Delhi:
All castes were counted during the census exercise conducted in British India between 1881 and 1931, but at the time of the first census of independent India in 1951, the then government decided not to count castes except the scheduled castes and tribes.
A decade later in 1961, the central government asked the states to conduct their own surveys and prepare the state-specific list of OBCs if they wish.
Now after six decades and after the demands of several quarters and various parties, the government has now decided to include caste calculations in the next nationwide census.
The final nationwide caste was calculated in 2011 under the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC), in which in a dialect, in which a dialect was in a dialect to collect detailed information about the socio-economic status of homes and individuals, including their caste.
Here is a look at history, politics and recent developments
What is a caste census?
A caste census includes a systematic collection of data on the identity of the caste of individuals during the national census exercise. In India, where caste has historically shaped social, economic and political mobility, such data can provide insight into demographic distribution, socio-economic conditions and representation of various caste groups. This information can be used to inform policies on positive action, reservation and social justice.
What is its historical reference?
There is a long history of caste count in India: British India (1881–1931): The British colonial administration included caste calculations in census exercises held in every decade between 1881 and 1931. These surveys classified the population by caste, religion and business, providing detailed demographic data. This exercise was partially inspired by colonial needs to understand and rule India’s complex social structure.
Post -independence innings (1951): After India gained independence in 1947, the first census of independent India in 1951 marked an important departure. Under the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the government decided to discontinue caste calculations except the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (STS). This decision was vested in the belief that focusing on caste could eliminate divisions and can cause a hindrance to national unity in a new independent nation.
1961 instructions: A decade later, in 1961, the central government allowed states to conduct their own survey to prepare state-specific lists of other backward classes (OBCs). This was in response to the demands of positive action for socially and educationally backward groups beyond SCS and STS. However, no nationwide census was done.
How caste census developed in a political issue?
Mandal Commission (1980): The Mandal Commission recommendation to provide 27 percent reservation for OBCs in central government jobs brought the caste back into political spotlight. The lack of comprehensive caste data made the OBC population challenging to accurately identify and determine to meet the demands for a caste census.
Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011: In 2011, the UPA government operated the socio-economic and caste census, the first attempt to collect nationwide caste data since 1931. However, since SECC 2011 caste data was never fully released or used, which criticized opposition parties and caste-based organizations.
State level initiative: In the absence of a national caste census, states such as Bihar, Telangana and Karnataka have conducted their own caste surveys in recent years. The purpose of these surveys is to collect data to support state-specific reservation policies and welfare programs. The caste survey of Bihar in 2023 revealed that more than 63 percent of the population of OBC and extremely backward class (EBC) state has been formed.
Why does the caste census matter?
A caste census is more than a demographic practice; This is a politically charged issue with intensive social implications: Acovists said that the inclusion of caste in the census can lead to far -reaching implications for reservation policies, political representation and social justice initiative. It can also change electoral strategies, as parties have vie to support various caste groups.
“Access to essential services in India – education, healthcare, nutrition and social security – is shaped by structural inequalities of caste, region, religion and economic status. These differences – a caste census is important to highlight and design policies and programs, which are really uniform and inclusive, which are executive of executive director of India.
Exact caste data can help tailor positive action policies such as education and reservation in jobs to address current socio-economic inequalities.
Many people consider census of caste necessary to identify and uplift the marginalized communities, but people also warns that it can deepen caste identity and deep divisions.
what lies ahead?
The declaration marks a major policy axis after 70 years of resistance to comprehensive caste calculations, but how the data will be collected, classified, and is yet to be used.
The inclusion of caste data in the upcoming census has far -reaching implications for India’s ongoing struggle with electoral politics and inequality. But it remains to be decided when the exercise will be done.
(This story is not edited by NDTV employees and auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
