The Hindu: Published on 1st May 2025:
Why in News?
The Union Cabinet has approved caste enumeration in the upcoming national Census, marking the first time since 1931 that all castes in India will be officially counted. This move, announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, comes amid political and social discourse on the need for updated caste data and its role in ensuring social justice and equitable representation.
Background:
Census 2021 has been indefinitely delayed, initially due to COVID-19.
The last caste-based Census was held in 1931 during British rule.
Post-Independence, only SCs and STs were enumerated by caste.
The 2011 SECC (Socio-Economic and Caste Census) was a survey, not a formal part of the Census, and lacked legal/statistical reliability due to open-ended caste self-reporting.
Key Features of the New Caste Census:
To be held during the second phase of the upcoming Census.
Will be conducted in digital mode via a mobile app.
A coded directory of castes will be used to avoid duplication and open-ended responses (unlike SECC 2011).
Statutory backing will be provided to give legal weight to the enumeration.
Expected Outcomes & Significance:
The caste data will serve as crucial input for policy-making, especially for affirmative action and social welfare programs.
It is expected to influence the next delimitation exercise, possibly affecting Lok Sabha seat allocation.
Forms the data basis for implementing the 33% women’s reservation in Parliament and State Assemblies.
Political Context:
The decision precedes the Bihar Assembly election, where caste has traditionally played a key electoral role.
The BJP-led government has criticized the Congress for avoiding caste census during its tenure.
Opposition parties, especially in Bihar, have long demanded a caste count to ensure fair resource allocation and representation.
Implementation Details:
An estimated 30 lakh government officials will act as enumerators.
The app-based process will include dropdown options for caste names.
Government claims it will avoid issues seen in the SECC, which reported over 46 lakh caste entries, due to lack of standardization.
Challenges and Concerns:
Logistical complexity of standardizing and categorizing caste names.
Risk of social fragmentation or politicization of caste data.
Data privacy and accuracy in self-reporting via digital tools.
Coordination between Centre and States with differing caste lists.
Implications:
- Could lead to revised OBC reservation quotas based on real population data.
- Might redefine the political landscape, especially in caste-sensitive states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
- Sets precedent for data-driven governance and targeted welfare delivery.
