The Hindu: Published on 12th June 2025
Why in News:
The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has decided to conduct a caste enumeration in the upcoming Census.
This marks a pivotal shift, as India hasn't conducted a full caste census since 1931, making it a significant development in terms of data-driven social policy.
Background:
The 1931 Census was the last to record caste data comprehensively.
The 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) was riddled with inconsistencies and its caste data was never released.
Article 246 of the Constitution gives the Union Government the authority to conduct the Census, listed under the 7th Schedule.
Key Findings from State-Level Caste Surveys:
Bihar Caste Survey (2023):
OBCs + EBCs: Over 63%
SCs: 19.65% | STs: 1.68%
General category: Only 15.52%
Over 34% families survive on less than ₹200/day.
Telangana (2025):
BCs form 56.33%, including 10.08% BC Muslims
Revealed Reality:
Marginalised groups are majority in population but minority in representation, e.g., only 4% of professors in Central Universities are OBCs.
What is the Social Management Approach?
Contrast to top-down welfare:
Traditional welfare models apply uniform policies, often missing deeper inequalities.
Social management model:
Uses disaggregated caste data to target interventions.
Recognises caste as a developmental variable, not just a social stigma.
Examples: Tamil Nadu and Karnataka use data to recalibrate reservations and welfare.
Potential Uses:
Diversity audits in institutions.
Caste-wise tracking of schemes like PM Awas Yojana, Skill India, etc.
Disaggregated budgeting for healthcare, infrastructure, education.
Democratic Accountability:
A caste census fosters transparency:
Civil society and media can track resource distribution.
Citizens can demand fair representation and inclusion.
Can highlight intra-caste inequality, preventing elite subgroups from monopolising benefits.
Global Comparisons:
Other democracies like the USA, South Africa, and Brazil collect identity-based data:
Used to enforce civil rights, diversity policies, and anti-discrimination laws.
The argument is: Counting caste does not deepen casteism, it exposes and addresses it.
Concerns and Criticisms:
National unity and social harmony: Critics fear caste enumeration may exacerbate divisions.
Response: Caste already operates structurally; ignoring it does not solve the problem.
The census is not just about recognition, but about rectification through policy.
Implications for Governance:
Data-led policymaking could result in:
Better targeting of affirmative action.
Structural reforms in education, jobs, and public services.
A shift towards equity-driven governance, beyond mere electoral calculations.
Conclusion:
A national caste census, done transparently and ethically, is not just a statistical exercise.
It is a tool for democratic transformation, aimed at correcting historical injustices.
If coupled with reforms like land rights, labour protections, and gender justice, it could significantly advance social equity in India.
