Significance of caste census

Source: The post Significance of caste census has been created, based on the article “Is the caste Census a useful exercise?” published in “The Hindu” on 5th December 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 1-Polity and governance

Context: The article critically examines the feasibility and implications of conducting a caste Census in India. While proponents argue that a caste Census could determine the population sizes of various castes and facilitate proportionate reservations in government jobs, land, and wealth. The article also highlights significant challenges and limitations associated with the exercise. Significance of caste census

What is the caste Census, and why is it being demanded?

1. The caste Census is a proposed exercise to determine the population sizes of various castes in India.
2. Proponents argue that it would allow for proportionate representation in government jobs, land distribution, and wealth allocation.
3. The demand has gained traction from opposition leaders, NGOs, and the RSS.

What is the historical background of the caste Census?

1. First conducted in 1871-72, the caste Census aimed to classify groups based on caste across regions such as Bengal, Madras, and the North-Western Provinces.
2. Arbitrary classifications were common, e.g., terms like “mendicants,” “musicians,” and “outcastes” were used.
3. By 1931, 4,147 castes were identified, but inconsistencies in caste claims persisted.
4. The 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) reported 7 lakh castes/sub-castes with 8.2 crore errors.

What are the challenges in accessing accurate caste data?

1. Upward caste mobility claims: Respondents may claim higher caste status for social prestige, as seen between the 1921 and 1931 Censuses. Example: The same community reported belonging to Kshatriya, Rajput, Brahmin, and Vaishya in different years.
2. Downward caste mobility claims: Post-independence, some communities claim lower caste status to access reservation benefits. Examples: Upper castes demanding OBC status or OBCs seeking ST categorization.
3. Caste misclassification: Similar-sounding surnames can lead to errors. Example: ‘Dhanak’ (SC), ‘Dhankia’ (SC), and ‘Dhanka’ (ST) in Rajasthan. Also, Enumerators may rely on assumptions instead of explicit responses due to discomfort.

Why is proportional representation impractical for reservations?

• Reservations are based on percentages of population groups, e.g.,:OBCs: 27% → Every 4th position, SCs: 15% → Every 7th position, STs:5% → Every 14th position and EWS: 10% → Every 10th position.
• Challenges in proportional representation by individual caste: Example: If a caste has 10,000 members (0.0007% of the population), 1,40,845 vacancies would need to be advertised for just one reservation. With 46.7 lakh castes (SECC 2011 data), it would take 7,000 years for the least populous caste to secure a single vacancy under UPSC recruitment.

What are the conclusions on the caste Census?

1. The caste Census faces issues like inconsistent data, caste misclassification, and inflated claims for mobility.
2. Proportional representation at an individual caste level is impractical and regressive as it excludes the least populous castes from meaningful benefits.
3. While the demand is politically significant, the complexities render it a challenging and potentially futile exercise.