Decision on Caste Census in India

The Union Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has announced the inclusion of caste enumeration in the upcoming population Census. This move has been a long-standing demand, particularly from opposition parties like the Congress.

Background and Historical Context

• The last nationwide caste census was conducted in 1931 by the British colonial government.
• The 1931 Census showed Other Backward Classes (OBC) as 52% of the population, influencing the Mandal Commission's 1980 recommendation for OBC reservations.
• The Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) initiated in 2011 by the UPA government did not release specific caste data.

Challenges in Caste Census

• The 1931 Census faced numerous challenges: 
  • Non-cooperation movements and political resistance, including Gandhi's salt march.
  • Methodological inconsistencies, such as changes from using "varna hierarchy" to occupation-based classifications.
  • Resistance from caste groups attempting to improve their social status through the Census.
• J.H. Hutton, the Census Commissioner in 1931, critiqued the varna hierarchy method, opting to classify castes by occupation to avoid social precedence biases.
• Fluidity and evolution of caste identities, with some groups changing names or status between censuses, pose ongoing challenges.

Modern Implications and Considerations

Experts  highlight the continued complexity in conducting a caste census today, drawing parallels to the 1931 challenges.

• Defining caste and standardizing names across regions remain significant hurdles.
• Dynamic identity claims, such as groups changing caste status or merging, complicate enumeration.
• Lack of uniform classification criteria could hinder the accuracy and utility of modern caste data.

Conclusion

As India considers a new caste census, it must address historical challenges and contemporary dynamics to ensure an accurate and useful enumeration process.