PYQ Vault · Paper 1 · Caste, Religion & Ethnicity
Caste remains a vital axis for political mobilisation in India. How would the caste census address the aspirations of people? Discuss.
How the answer moves
The flow snapshot — the routes in, the body, the counter-view and the routes out.
Flow snapshot — how the answer moves
Intro routes
R1 caste no longer ritual hierarchy → a secular resource for bargaining (Kothari: politicisation of caste) R2 reservation / representation / welfare rest on caste location → caste = axis of mobilisation
Body flow
the census extends this logic → credible data for aspirations → Mandal Commission: OBC share 52% vs 36-65% estimates → replaces guesswork → Rohini Commission: uneven OBC benefit → sub-categorisation protects EBCs from dominant segments → exposes upper-caste over-representation → evidence-based welfare / education / employment → being counted = recognition + dignity (Bihar survey)
Counter-view
fear of sharpened caste competition → benefits captured by better-placed groups → must balance social justice with constitutional equality
Conclusion routes
rR! arithmetic must become responsiveness, not fresh division R2 recognition deepens democracy only if it serves justice over division
Model answer
Handwritten, in the form it would be written in the examination hall.
