The Hindu: Published on 6th May 2025:
Why in News?
Caste enumeration has emerged as a pivotal issue in Indian politics and governance.
With the next national Census approaching, the demand for a caste-based Census has intensified from political parties, especially after the Bihar caste survey and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Political leaders such as Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, and parties like the Congress and Samajwadi Party, are openly advocating caste enumeration to ensure proportional representation and social justice.
Historical Context:
Colonial roots: The first caste-based data collection was done in 1872, with caste formally codified by H.H. Risley in 1901, turning enumeration into a political act.
Post-independence, the Kaka Kalelkar Commission (1953) and Mandal Commission (1980) tried to address OBC representation.
The Mandal Commission, implemented partially in 1990, reshaped OBC politics but relied on outdated 1931 caste data, which has since driven the push for updated enumeration.
Political Implications:
OBC Empowerment: A new caste census could offer more inclusive representation for smaller and underrepresented OBC and SC communities.
Party Strategies:
BJP: Has embraced OBC inclusion within its Hindutva narrative; likely to leverage caste enumeration to expand its social base, especially among EBCs (Extremely Backward Classes).
Opposition: INDIA alliance aims to regain lost ground among OBC, SC, and minority voters by demanding caste data and equitable policies.
Electoral Realignment: The caste census could reconfigure caste coalitions, affecting both national and state-level politics significantly.
Social and Economic Implications:
Visibility for Marginalised Groups: Smaller SC/OBC/nomadic communities could gain recognition and political attention.
Data-Driven Policy: With updated caste data, welfare schemes, reservation policies, and economic reforms could be more targeted and fair.
Exposure of Inequality: Enumeration linked to land ownership and economic status can expose the roots of economic and caste-based inequality.
Administrative and Governance Implications:
Improved Welfare Planning: Enumerating caste provides better demographic profiling for resource allocation, job quotas, and education.
Challenges of Enumeration: Implementing a caste census is technically and politically sensitive — risks of social fragmentation, caste-based politics, and administrative overload are real.
Legal Hurdles: Caste enumeration must overcome legal, constitutional, and procedural issues — including privacy and uniformity concerns.
Contradictions and Criticisms:
Merit vs Representation Debate: Critics argue that caste enumeration may deepen identity politics and dilute the concept of merit.
Over-Concentration: Present OBC politics is often dominated by intermediary castes, marginalising smaller ones — a census might correct this skew.
Ambiguity in Definitions: Defining who qualifies as “backward” is complex and can lead to conflicts over inclusion/exclusion.
Forward Path / Future Outlook:
The 2025-26 Census, if conducted with caste enumeration, will likely:
Influence the next Finance Commission’s allocations.
Guide reservation recalibration.
Shape political narratives leading up to the 2029 General Elections.
Parties will likely intensify caste-based outreach, redrawing political equations across heartland states like Bihar, UP, MP, and beyond.
Conclusion:
- Caste enumeration, while politically charged, presents a rare opportunity to bring transparency, fairness, and inclusivity into Indian governance.
- However, it must be pursued responsibly, with safeguards against social fragmentation, and guided by the principle that numbers should empower the marginalised, not divide the nation.
