The word “caste” is derived from the Spanish word “casta,” which means “race” or “genetic group.” In India, the Portuguese used it to refer to “caste.” During the national census, the caste census will systematically document each person’s caste-based identification. According to Herbert Risley, caste and race were used to categorise Indian society in the 1901 census, which strengthened caste identity in official records and promoted social conservatism. The Government of India has sanctioned the incorporation of a caste census in Census 2021, which had been discontinued post-independence, and diligent efforts are on to reinstate it. The government’s activism and social justice initiatives may be significantly impacted by this decision, which was made in response to growing political and social demands. Speaking about the caste-based census in India, the first data on caste was gathered in 1871, during the normal census conducted under British control. This practice persisted consistently until 1931. In 1941, the census only gathered a portion of it because of the Second World War. The caste census was discontinued in 1951 by the newly independent Indian government, which was headed by Jawaharlal Nehru at the time, to prevent societal divisiveness. The only information gathered during this period was about Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Castes (SC). On the other hand, no thorough data was gathered for the Other Backward Classes (OBC). The country has long been calling for a caste-based survey, but the previous administrations said nothing about it. For the advancement of society and the nation’s underprivileged groups, the government of India made the crucial decision to conduct a caste census. The caste-based census was a brilliant move by the government that has stolen the agenda of the opposition parties. The opposition parties have now been deprived of a crucial election issue. Caste-based censuses have long been demanded by opposition parties, particularly the Congress, Samajwadi Party, and RJD. A caste-based census was demanded as a social justice and backward class representation problem. The government’s catchphrase, an attempt to gather caste-based statistics, was made in 2011 with the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC); however, the results were not completely released. In recent years, there has been a growing push for a census that is based on caste. The demand grew after the Bihar government released its caste-based survey results in 2023. Additionally, after a delay, the Karnataka survey, which began in 2015 as a socioeconomic and educational survey, was finished and published in 2025. In a similar vein, Telangana’s socioeconomic, educational, employment, political, and caste survey, which included around 97% of the population, was finished in just 50 days. Now the question arises that how will the society benefit from a caste-based census, and what will be its role in the development of the country?
Social Justice: The government can more effectively implement reservation regulations and social welfare programs by using caste-based data to precisely identify the society’s backward classes. Policy Making: The central government will receive precise data from this poll regarding the social, educational, and economic standing of various castes. This will have the benefit of enabling targeted policies to be implemented with a specific goal, group, or issue in mind. Policies that are targeted are highly focused, precise, and successful. Social Equality: The Constitution’s Articles 15, 16, and 46 permit the advancement of equality. To reduce social inequality, caste-based statistics can be utilised to develop special initiatives for underprivileged groups. Political Representation: It is said that a significant portion of the population in India is severely underrepresented in politics. Caste-based censuses will provide the underprivileged classes a voice and increase the openness of political policies and representation decisions. Economic Development: The social and economic advancement of a nation is crucial to its progress. Future economic growth may be aided by this survey’s ability to facilitate the fair distribution of resources to enhance the lot of India’s underprivileged groups. The government can create more focused programs for the OBC population by using the caste-based census data to determine the precise number of members and their socioeconomic level. The government has shown its dedication to social justice and the well-being of underprivileged groups through its caste-based census program. The information gathered from this poll will offer a chance to reconsider social programs and reservation policies. Caste-based counting is useful for examining social shifts, including urbanisation and intercaste marriages. It would assist in settling social and legal conflicts about claims, as well as in comprehending caste-based reservations and advantages. Additionally, it will be feasible to enhance the distribution of resources for social welfare, employment, and education. Poverty, unemployment, and educational attainment can all be examined using caste-based enumeration. A significant turning point in India’s progress towards a more equitable and inclusive society will be the choice to have a census based on caste. The Central Government’s wise choice will make it easier to design and carry out initiatives by gathering information on social justice, economic development, social equality, policymaking, and political representation. By implementing this data-driven strategy with integrity and consideration, the government may make progress in eradicating systemic injustices and creating a nation in which each individual can contribute significantly to the advancement of the nation—”Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas.”
Mohit Maurya