India will include the next census of castes. This is something to know. – National
India will include caste details in its next census, which could have socio-economic and political implications for the world's most populous country.
Information Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw did not disclose when the census will begin, and he announced that it would include caste information on Wednesday. He said the decision demonstrates New Delhi’s commitment to “the values and interests of society and the country”.
This count may result in demands for the increase in the country's quota to retain offices in government work, university admissions and elected certain categories of castes, especially for a group of lower and intermediate castes considered to be other backward classes. India's current policy cap is 50%, with 27% of which are reserved for OBC.
Caste is an ancient social hierarchy in India and is crucial to India's life and politics. In India, especially among Hindus, hundreds of caste groups are based on occupation and economic status, but the country has limited or outdated data to see how many people belong to them.
The successive Indian government has refused to update caste data, believing that this could lead to social unrest. But its supporters say detailed demographic information is necessary for the proper implementation of many of India’s social justice plans.
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The colonial ruler, Britain, began a census of India in 1872 and calculated all castes as 1931. However, since 1951, independent India has only counted the Dalits and adivasis, which are called pre-determined castes and tribes, respectively. Others' castes are marked as average.
The next decade's population survey initially expired in 2021, but was primarily delayed by the 19-year-old pandemic and logistical obstacles. The last official census in 2011 was 1.21 billion people, of which 201100 was the planned caste and the planned tribal plan was 104 million.
The news came months before the important elections held in India’s poorest Bihar, and caste was a key issue. Modi's party holds a coalition government in Bihar.
Opposition and Modi's partners urged the government to count castes in the new census. Modi's Indian Nationalist Party has opposed the idea of calculating people through caste, saying it will deepen social divisions in the country.
“It's clear that our pressure on the government's caste census has worked,” Rahul Gandhi, the opposition leader of the Congress party, wrote on X.
Two states in northern India’s Bihar and southern Karnataka have published caste surveys, both showing higher numbers of backward castes and prompting demands for higher quotas.
Similar investigations are also planned in two southern states Andhra Pradesh and Tlanganana states.
Vaishnaw said details including caste would increase transparency in the national census, while adding that some states ruled by opposition parties have conducted their own caste investigations for political gain.
The fate of many parties, including the Bharatiya Janata party ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, depends on the alliance of castes, especially in the OBC category.
On Wednesday, India's powerful Home Secretary Amit Shah called the move “historic” and said “will give all power economically and socially.”
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
