How does the government decide its schemes and plans? Well, a lot of it depends on the Census. Through the census, we get to know the country's population, how educated people are, and which economic groups they belong to. The last Census was conducted in 2011, and since then, we have been working with that data. Now, there is talk about conducting a Caste Census.
This demand comes from the fact that the data we currently have is 90 years old, while castes are often the basis for several welfare programs.
Caste-related data was collected in 1951 and again in 2011, but it was never made public due to political reasons. So, the big question is: Is a Caste Census really necessary? This is an important question with many layers that need to be understood. In this blog, you will learn everything about caste census.
What is the Caste Census?
When we talk about a 'caste census,' we are referring to the process of counting the number of people belonging to each caste in India during the census.
India has counted and published caste data - from 1951 to 2011 - of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes only. It also publishes data related to religions, languages and socio-economic status.
The last caste census was conducted way back in 1931. Since then, any information we use about caste is based on those old numbers. This 1931 census plays a big role because it became the basis for job & education quotas under what's known as the Mandal formula, which came from the recommendations of the Mandal Commission.
Difference between Census and Socio-Economic Caste Census
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Difference
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Census
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Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC)
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Purpose
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Gives a complete picture of India's population
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It's a tool to identify beneficiaries of state support in India.
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Legal Basis
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Conducted under the Census Act, 1948
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Not conducted under any specific Act
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Confidentiality of Data
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Individual data is confidential
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Personal information is open for use by govt departments for benefits allocation to households
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Duration
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Conducted every 10 years
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The last SECC conducted in 2011
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Historical Background
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1st synchronous census conducted in 1881 in India
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1st SECC conducted in 1931 & later in 2011
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How Caste-based Data Collection Started in India?
The 1st Census in India was conducted in 1881 during the British period. The government, policymakers, academics, and others use the census to count the Indian population, allocate resources, track social changes.
Talking about caste-based data collection, has a long history in India, with information on castes being included until 1931.
After 1951, the collection of caste data was stopped to avoid a divisive approach and encourage unity. But in 2023, Bihar became the 1st state in India to start the Caste-based census.
Now, due to changing circumstances and the need for precise information, there is a fresh push to conduct a caste census.
From Past-to-Present of Census in India
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YEAR
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EVENT
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800 BC
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‘Rig Veda’ reveals that some kind of population count was maintained during 800-600 BC.
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300 BC
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Kautilya's Arthashastra proposed a population census with the age distribution, occupation, income and expenditure of each person.
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1590
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During the regime of Mughal king Akbar, the administrative report 'Ain-e-Akbari' included comprehensive data regarding the population
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1865
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A modern population census was conducted non-synchronously
(at random intervals) in different parts of the country.
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1872
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1st non-synchronous population census of India
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1881
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1st synchronous population census of India
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Classification of Demographic, Economic & Social Characteristics
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Took in the entire continent of British India (except Kashmir)
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1891
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Efforts were made for 100% coverage, including the upper part of present Burma, Kashmir and Sikkim were also included
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1901
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Castes of only Hindus and Jains were recorded, and for others, names of tribes or races were recorded.
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1931
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1st Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC)
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1948
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Post-Independence, the Census Act of 1948 was passed- laid guidelines & procedures to conduct census.
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1941
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Census curtailed due to World War II & was last Census of Pre-Independence period.
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1951
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1st census of Independent India
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2001
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Handwritten data from the schedules were converted into digitized form through Intelligent Character Reading (ICR).
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2011
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Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) was conducted by the Ministry of Rural Development in rural areas and the Ministry of Urban Affairs in urban areas, but it was not made public.
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2021
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It was going to be 1st digitalised census of India
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Govt decided not to enumerate caste-wise population (except SCs & STs)
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Delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
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Pros and Cons of Caste Census
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Arguments in favour of the Caste Census
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Arguments against the Caste Census
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Last caste census was in 1931 by Britishers, so it's time for an update old data to reflect how India has changed.
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Goes against the idea of moving towards a casteless society.
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Accurate caste data can help the govt. for better affirmative action that supports disadvantaged groups.
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This leads to more caste-based politics & social conflict, slowing down progress.
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Knowing the economic & educational status of different castes can make targeted welfare programs more effective.
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Could reinforce caste identities & strengthen caste divisions.
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Provide clear data to support discussion on fair reservations.
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This could lead to more reservation demands for reservations, affecting meritocracy and governance.
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Help to understand & address caste-based discrimination better.
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People might not be honest about their caste, leading to a risk of inaccurate data.
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Govt. views on Caste-Census
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The Union government, in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, stated conducting a caste census us not practical due to administrative challenges.
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Also, union govt. argues that the judiciary cannot direct the government to conduct a caste census as it is a "policy decision", and the court cannot interfere with govt policy.
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Govt. also highlighted that, unlike the SCs & STs, there is no constitutional requirement to provide the census figures of the OBCs and the Backward classes.
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The Govt of India announced in Lok Sabha 2021 that it has chosen not to count populations based on caste, except for SCs and STs, as a matter of policy.
Conclusion
It's important to consider the pros and cons of conducting a caste census. Accurate data on the population of OBCs and other groups is necessary to ensure a fair distribution of resources and promote social justice. A caste census can help monitor the effectiveness of affirmative action policies and provide a comprehensive picture of Indian society.
Policymakers need to carefully weigh arguments against both sides to create a more just and equitable society. What do you think of this?