Why in the News?
In a landmark move, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) has approved the inclusion of caste enumeration in the 2025 population census for the first time since India’s independence.
What is Caste Census?
- A caste census is the process of recording individuals’ caste identities during a national census.
- It aims to gather data on the distribution and socio-economic status of different caste groups, helping inform policies related to affirmative action, social justice, and welfare programs in India.
- Caste plays a significant role in the country’s social, economic, and political life.
- History of Caste Census:
- British India (1881–1931): Caste enumeration was part of the decennial census under British rule, used for administrative purposes.
- Post-Independence (1951): After independence, the Indian government, led by Jawaharlal Nehru, discontinued caste enumeration to promote national unity and avoid social divisions.
- 1961 Directive: States were allowed to collect their own data on Other Backward Classes (OBCs), leading to fragmented caste data collection at the state level.
- 1980 Mandal Commission: The commission recommended 27% reservation for OBCs in government jobs, fuelling the demand for caste-based data. The lack of national caste data made the implementation of such policies contentious.
- 2011 Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC): The SECC collected caste data, but it was not officially integrated into the census, and its findings were not fully released, drawing criticism for lack of transparency and application.
Implications of Caste Census:
- Political: It can help improve representation for marginalized groups and ensure better-targeted welfare programs.
- Social: Unveils intersectional disparities, helping identify gaps in services like education, healthcare, and social protection.
- Policy: Aids in shaping reservation policies and resource allocation for poverty alleviation.
- Opposition and Concerns: Some worry it may reinforce caste-based divisions, particularly among upper-caste groups and certain political factions.
- Electoral and Governance: Accurate data influences electoral strategies, helping parties address community-specific needs.
- Legal and Administrative Impact: The 2025 caste enumeration raises issues regarding data collection, classification, and use, ensuring it is applied effectively without reinforcing caste-based disparities.
| [UPSC 2008] Amongst the following States, which one has the highest percentage of rural population (on the basis of the Census, 2001)?
Options: (a) Himachal Pradesh* (b) Bihar (c) Odisha (d) Uttar Pradesh |
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