Why in News?

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has approved the inclusion of caste data in the upcoming population census. The 2021 Census was postponed due to COVID-19 and remains indefinitely delayed.

This decision reignites the ongoing debate over the role of caste-based enumeration in governance, policymaking, and politics.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Census in India
• History and Status of Caste Census
• Key Highlights on Caste Census Decision
• What Happens Now

Census in India

• Overview of Population Census
  • The Population Census offers essential statistics on human resources, demographics, culture, and the economic structure at all administrative levels.
  • The first census in India began in 1872 (non-synchronous), while the first synchronous census was held in 1881 under British rule by W.C. Plowden.
  • It is conducted every 10 years by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Legal and Constitutional Basis
  • Census is a Union subject under Entry 69, Union List, Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
  • It is governed by the Census Act, 1948.

History and Status of Caste Census

• Caste data was collected during British India censuses from 1881 to 1931.
• Post-1951, caste enumeration was discontinued, except for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
• In 1961, the Centre recommended that States conduct their own OBC surveys, since central OBC reservations did not exist then.
• Though census is a central subject, the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 enables states and local bodies to collect data — as done by Karnataka (2015) and Bihar (2023).
• Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC)
  • The last attempt at caste data collection at a national level took place in 2011 through the SECC, intended to assess the socio-economic condition of households alongside caste information.
    • Ministry of Rural Development oversaw the rural survey.
    • Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation handled urban areas.
  • Only the socio-economic data was published in 2016; the caste data was withheld.
  • The raw caste data was handed over to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, which constituted an Expert Group led by Arvind Panagariya for classification.
  • It is unclear if the group submitted its report—no report was ever made public.
• Learnings from the SECC (2011)
  • The SECC recorded 46 lakh caste names due to its open-ended format, compared to 4,147 castes in 1931.
  • People wrote sub-caste names or surnames (e.g., Gupta, Agarwal), causing data inflation.
  • This time, a standardised code directory will be used to avoid such inconsistencies.

Key Highlights on Caste Census Decision

• Digital Mode & Drop-Down Caste Directory
  • For the first time, the Census will be conducted in digital mode, using a mobile app.
  • A new “Other” column with a drop-down caste code directory will be included beside the SC/ST column.
  • Software is currently undergoing testing to ensure smooth implementation.
• Directory Development & Testing
  • The Central OBC list (2,650 communities), SC list (1,170), and ST list (890) will be merged with State OBC lists to form a comprehensive codebook.
  • A pre-test will be conducted to iron out glitches before the actual enumeration.
• Major Policy Shift After Decades
  • The CCPA’s approval to include caste data in the upcoming census marks the first comprehensive caste enumeration since 1931 (excluding SC/ST data).
• Historical Context of Caste Enumeration
  • Caste data was excluded from post-Independence censuses (1951–2011), except for SC/ST figures.
  • The last full caste census was in 1931, with unpublished data from 1941.
• Reliance on Estimates So Far
  • In the absence of official data, estimates like the Mandal Commission’s 52% OBC figure have guided policy and electoral decisions.
• Bureaucratic and Data Classification Hurdles
  • Accurate caste data collection is hampered by overlapping caste names, classification ambiguities, and lack of clarity on inter-caste or migrant identities.
• Inconsistent State-Level OBC Lists
  • Different states have varying OBC lists and sub-categories like Most Backward Classes, complicating efforts to create a standardized national caste database.
• Renewed Debate on Governance and Representation
  • The move revives the broader debate on how caste data should inform governance, social justice, and political representation in India.

What Happens Now

• About 30 lakh government officials will need retraining for the new digital format.
• The Census will occur in two phases:
  • Phase 1: House listing & housing schedule (31 questions; already notified in 2020).
  • Phase 2: Population enumeration (28 questions; tested in 2019, yet to be officially notified).
• Significance for Delimitation & Women’s Reservation
  • The new Census findings will be used to:
    • Redraw Lok Sabha constituencies (delimitation).
    • Implement 33% women’s reservation in Parliament and State Assemblies.