Background: Why is this decision significant now?

• Union Cabinet’s move: Caste to be enumerated in the upcoming Census — for the first time in over a century.
  
  
• Political shift: Marks a reversal of BJP’s earlier stand opposing caste-based census.
  
  
• Timing: Comes ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections, amidst growing demands for caste-based social justice.
  
  

2. Historical Context: Has caste been counted before?

• First counted in 1881: Caste was included in decennial census data.
  
  
• 1931 Census: Last published data on individual caste names and distribution.
  
  
• Post-independence: India dropped caste enumeration (except for SC/ST) from the Census.
  
  
• 2011 SECC (Socio-Economic and Caste Census):
  
  
  • Collected data on caste, but never released due to concerns over data quality and complexity.
    
    

3. Why is the decision a surprise?

• BJP’s prior stand: Rejected caste census citing it as a “policy matter” and avoided response in Parliament.
  
  
• Reversal due to pressure:
  
  
  • Opposition parties’ campaigns (e.g., Congress, RJD, JD(U)) for social justice and caste-based policies.
    
    
  • Successful state-level caste surveys (e.g., Bihar) showed strong OBC/EBC populations.
    
    
  • Growing demand to breach the 50% reservation cap, based on actual caste share.
    
    

4. States that have already conducted caste enumeration:

• Bihar (2022): Found 63% of the population were EBC/OBC.
  
  
• Chhattisgarh: Survey showed ~70% OBC + EBC.
  
  
• Tamil Nadu, Odisha: Also conducted or initiated caste surveys.
  
  
• These data have triggered calls for increased reservation quotas and policy representation.
  
  

5. What is the purpose of caste count?

• Better policy-making: Updated data needed for welfare targeting and resource allocation.
  
  
• Correct social inequities: Data helps understand which castes need more support in education, jobs, health.
  
  
• Demands for fair share: Political mobilization to increase OBC quota based on actual population share.
  
  

6. Implementation Challenges:

• No notification yet: Centre hasn’t officially notified caste enumeration for the next Census.
  
  
• Complexity:
  
  
  • Caste is fluid and diverse — issues with standardizing names, sub-castes.
    
    
  • Concerns over accuracy, duplication, and misreporting.
    
    
• Political implications:
  
  
  • May impact reservation ceilings, stir demands for quota beyond 50% cap (challenging SC verdict).
    
    
  • Risk of polarization or identity-based politics.
    
    

7. What will it be used for?

• Social justice planning: Data to guide policies on education, jobs, housing, and welfare.
  
  
• Reservation restructuring: Could lead to revision in reservation shares — especially for OBCs.
  
  
• Electoral impact: May influence candidate selection and voter mobilization in upcoming elections.
  
  

8. Opposition View:

• Congress and allies:
  
  
  • Welcome the caste census.
    
    
  • Termed it necessary for real representation and equity.
    
    
  • Criticize BJP for earlier resistance and now taking a reactive stance under electoral pressure.
    
    

9. Key Concerns Raised by Experts:

• Enumerating caste scientifically is difficult.
  
  
• May face challenges similar to SECC-2011 (where data was too vast and complex to process).
  
  
• Risks strengthening caste divisions instead of removing them.
  
  

Conclusion:

The caste census marks a turning point in Indian politics, with deep implications for:

• Social equity
  
  
• Welfare targeting
  
  
• Reservation reforms
  
  

GS Paper I – Society

Q1. Discuss the significance of a caste-based census in addressing social justice and inequality in India. What are the challenges involved in its implementation?
 (10 marks)