INTRODUCTION

The caste system, deeply ingrained in India's social fabric, continues to shape various facets of life, including socio-economic opportunities and political dynamics. The proposal for a caste census in India has sparked intense debate due to its potential to inform targeted policy interventions and enhance social justice efforts. However, proponents highlight its necessity for informed decision-making, while critics raise concerns over potential social divisions and logistical complexities.

Caste Enumeration in Indian Censuses

• Comprehensive Caste Data (British India): All castes were recorded in censuses between 1881 and 1931 during British rule.

• The 1931 Census identified 4,147 castes in India, excluding the depressed classes/untouchables.

• Unpublished Caste Data: In 1941, caste-based data was collected but remained unpublished. Census Commissioner M.W.M. Yeats remarked that producing an extensive and expensive all-India caste table was impractical amidst World War II,

• Post-Independence Exclusion: After independence in 1951, caste data was generally excluded from censuses, with exceptions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

• The government prioritised data collection on SCs and STs for policy and affirmative action purposes.

• State-Level OBC Identification: In 1961, states were allowed to conduct their own surveys to identify Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

• Parliamentary Resolution: In 2010, after lobbying by OBC leaders, Parliament passed a unanimous resolution for caste to be enumerated in the 2011 Census, referencing the 1931 Census which last included caste data.

• Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC)-2011: It was poorly executed, yielding an implausible figure of 46 lakh castes, leading to its results being withheld.

• Cost and Conduct: The SECC was a massive undertaking with a budget of Rs. 4893.60 crore. It was conducted jointly by the Ministries of Rural Development and Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation.

• Data Collection and Publication:

• Non-caste related data was finalised and published in 2016. 

• Caste data was separately handed to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and an expert group was formed under Arvind Pangaria to classify and categorise caste data. The status of this group's report is unclear.

• Failure of SECC: The failure was attributed to it not being conducted under the Census Act, 1948, and the ministries responsible lacked experience in sociological surveys.

• The questionnaire design was flawed, leading to confusion among enumerators regarding genuine castes, sub-castes, surnames, and other classifications.

• Successful Model-Bihar's 2023 Caste Survey: It provided a list of 214 specific caste names, with a category for "Other Castes," resulting in more accurate data.

• Government's Stance and Legal Implications

• The Central government announced in 2021 it would not include caste in the next Census.

• The Supreme Court dismissed a plea from Maharashtra for OBC enumeration in the 2021 Census, a decision at odds with its past rulings

Need for Caste Census

• Social Imperative: Caste remains a foundational social construct in India, influencing aspects like marriage, surnames, residential segregation, and political choices.

• Legal Imperative: Detailed caste-wise data is essential for implementing Constitutionally-mandated social justice policies, including reservations in education, employment, and electoral constituencies, as supported by various Supreme Court rulings.

• Administrative Imperative: Accurate caste data helps prevent wrongful inclusions/exclusions, ensures fair distribution within reserved categories, and assists in sub-categorizing castes and defining the creamy layer criteria.

• Moral Imperative: Lack of detailed caste data has allowed elites among upper castes and dominant OBCs to disproportionately control national resources, highlighting the need for equitable distribution.

• Implementing Electoral Reservations for OBCs: The Constitution allows reservations in electoral constituencies for panchayats and municipalities, extending to OBCs under Articles 243D(6) and 243T(6). 

• However, the lack of comprehensive caste-wise and area-wise Census data on OBCs poses a critical obstacle to the effective implementation of these provisions, impacting policy and representation.

• Empirical data for EWS Reservation: The Supreme Court upheld the 10% EWS reservation for non-OBC, SC, and ST categories in 2022 without supporting empirical data, highlighting the need for comprehensive caste enumeration in the Census.

Arguments Against Caste Census

• Social Divisiveness: Critics argue that enumerating caste will solidify caste identities, leading to further divisions and  discrimination.

• Administrative Challenges: Conducting a caste census is seen as logistically complex due to the vast number of castes and sub-castes across India. Critics argue that the government lacks the capacity to accurately and efficiently collect and process such data.

• Data misuse: There is  a concern that caste data could be misused for political gain or discriminatory purposes.

• Fueling Demands for Reservations: Concern that caste-based data could lead to increased demands for reservations from various caste groups. This could potentially intensify competition for limited resources and exacerbate social tensions.

Way Forward

• Amendment of the Census Act, 1948: The Census Act, 1948 should be amended to mandate caste enumeration, removing discretion from the Union executive.

• Caste should be included in the regular Census conducted by the Census Commissioner 

• Expert Involvement and Draft List: The government should engage sociological and anthropological experts to create a draft list of castes specific to each State.

• This draft list should be published online for public suggestions and comments before finalising it.

• Structured Questionnaire: The Census questionnaire should include specific questions on sub-caste, caste, larger caste group, and caste surname.

• Use of internet-enabled hand-held devices preloaded with caste details can streamline the process, allowing enumerators to select the correct options

• Data Privacy and Security: To mitigate concerns about social divisiveness, stringent data privacy and security protocols must be implemented. 

• The data collected should be anonymized and used solely for statistical purposes.

• Judicial Review: Interested States should petition the Supreme Court to review its 2021 judgement regarding caste enumeration.

• Robust Policy Framework: The collection of caste data should be accompanied by a well-defined policy framework outlining how the data will be used. Clear guidelines for data interpretation and utilisation can help prevent its misuse for political or discriminatory purposes.

• Regular Review and Updates: Establish a mechanism to regularly review and update caste data to ensure its relevance and accuracy. This will help in tracking changes in caste dynamics over time.

  
  

  Short Takes

  Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India(RGCCI): Functions under Ministry of Home Affairs and is responsible for arranging, conducting and analysing the results of the demographic surveys of India including Census of India and Linguistic Survey of India.Shri Mritunjay Kumar Narayan is the current RGCCI.

CONCLUSION

A caste census is crucial for addressing socio-economic disparities and ensuring equitable resource distribution in India. Accurate caste data aids in informed policy-making and effective implementation of social justice measures. A concerted government a

Tags:
Polity

Keywords:
Caste Census OBC SC ST