Overview
The debate around conducting a caste census has resurfaced with the Bihar Caste Survey (2023) and Telangana’s upcoming 2025 caste survey. With the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs contemplating caste enumeration, it becomes crucial to view this not just as data collection, but as a transformative governance tool rooted in social management.
Key Insights from State-Level Caste Surveys
- Bihar Caste Survey (2023):
- OBCs and EBCs form over 63% of the population.
- EBCs alone: 36.01%
- Scheduled Castes: 19.65%
- Scheduled Tribes: 1.68%
- General category: 15.52%
- 34% of Bihar’s families live on less than ₹2000/month; 44% of SC households are below this level.
- Telangana Caste Survey (Proposed 2025):
- Backward Classes (BCs): 56.33%
- BC Muslims form a substantial bloc (10.86%).
These surveys reflect the continued marginalisation of backward communities, especially in education, employment, and governance.
Why Is a Caste Census Necessary?
- Absence of Reliable Data:
- India hasn’t conducted a full caste census since 1931.
- The 2011 SECC was marred by inconsistencies and withheld caste data.
- Need for Evidence-Based Policy:
- Up-to-date caste data can strengthen targeted welfare, inclusive growth, and social equity policies.
What Is a Social Management Approach?
- Top-down welfare in India has failed to address caste, class, and gender-based inequalities.
- A social management model focuses on:
- Addressing structural inequalities.
- Using caste as a developmental variable, not a stigma.
- Promoting net-based interventions and disaggregated budgeting.
- Supporting education, healthcare, jobs, and representation for disadvantaged groups.
Global Precedents
- United States: Collects race and ethnicity data every 10 years to enforce civil rights.
- South Africa & Brazil: Use data for racial justice, language, and access rights.
- India lacks similar mechanisms to identify and correct structural injustice.
Transparency and Democratic Accountability
- Disaggregated caste data helps civil society monitor how public funds are used.
- A public caste census would:
- Enable citizen participation.
- Address intra-caste inequalities.
- Support better policy design.
- Reveal real beneficiaries of schemes like PM Awas Yojana or Skill India.
Benefits of a Caste Census in India
- Helps identify hidden poverty and social exclusion.
- Drives inclusive growth by focusing on literacy, jobs, housing, and healthcare for SC/ST/OBC and minority communities.
- Counters intersectional exploitation faced by Dalits, Muslims, and Adivasis.
- Strengthens democratic institutions through data-driven policy design.
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Q: Discuss the importance of caste-based data in designing inclusive social policies in India. How does a social management approach improve upon the traditional welfare model? (250 words)
UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q: Consider the following statements regarding the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC):
- It was conducted in 2011.
- It provided comprehensive caste-wise population data for policy implementation.
- The final data was entirely made public.
Which of the above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 1 only
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why is caste census important now?
A caste census helps India update outdated data, address systemic inequality, and implement equitable policies.
Q2: Does a caste census increase social division?
No. Data does not create caste; it reveals it. The objective is to use data to fix inequalities, not deepen them.
Q3: How is social management different from top-down welfare?
Social management targets root causes of disadvantage through data, unlike top-down models that often generalize aid.
