The importance of caste data

News: Recently, the Supreme Court upheld the 27% quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the All-India Quota seats for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test.

What does the judgement say?

One, the judgement reiterated that reservations for backward classes were not an exception but an extension of the principle of equality under Article 15(1) of the Constitution.

Two, the SC also pointed out that disparities are not limited to the issue of access to good education or financial constraints alone. It also extends to psychological and social development due to the inherited cultural capital of castes.

Read more here: Supreme Court upholds validity of OBC quota in NEET admissions 

Why there is a need for caste data?

First, many believe that affirmative actions increase caste differences and that’s why there is a need for a “casteless society”. But, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud pointed out that “castelessness” is a privilege that only castes, which are developed, can afford. Because they have already translated caste-related benefits, into social, political, and economic capital.

On the other hand, individuals who belong to the lower castes need to retain their caste identity in order to claim the benefits of measures such as reservation.

Second, many times political parties promise reservation for communities to get votes without any credible data collection exercises. For instance, Supreme Court struck down the reservation for the Maratha community.

The court has observed that when more people aspire for backwardness instead of forwardness, the country itself stagnates, which does not fulfill constitutional objectives. Hence, credible data will help in addressing the rising demand for reservations.

Three, the data concerning the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have been included in the Census, but there is no similar data on OBCs. Hence, there is a need for credible exercise to retain the faith of citizens. T

Four, the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) conducted in 2011 has been called “faulty” and “unreliable”. The Mandal Commission’s recommendations were also criticised as being based merely on the “personal knowledge” of the members of the commission and sample surveys.

Five, in the Indra Sawhney case, the Supreme Court held that the States must conclude the “backwardness” of a particular class of people only after proper assessment and objective evaluation. Hence, there should be a periodic review by a permanent body of experts.

Also, the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993, provides that the Central government should revise lists every 10 years to exclude those classes which have ceased to be backward and include new backward classes. However, all these exercises have not been done to date.

Six, caste data will enable independent research and ensure effectiveness. Thus, people who support or oppose reservation will be more informed of their views. It is not reservation that creates the current divide in our society, but the misuse or the perceived misuse of reservation.

What is the way forward?

If reservation results from violent agitations and political pressures, then it will always be under the shadow of caste and class politics. Hence, impartial data and subsequent research can save the most backward classes from caste and class politics.

Source: This post is based on the article “The importance of caste data” published in The Hindu on 16^th Feb 2022.