Context

• The Narendra Modi government’s decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming Census marks a transformative moment in Indian policymaking.
• Far from being a concession to identity politics, caste enumeration is an act of acknowledgment, a mirror reflecting the socio-economic realities of India.
• It is a foundational step towards evidence-based policymaking in pursuit of a more equitable and inclusive society.

Historical Context and Policy Contradictions

• Post-Independence India adopted a dual strategy: abolishing caste-based discrimination while pursuing social justice through reservations.
• This contradiction, often described as policy schizophrenia, stemmed from a refusal to officially acknowledge caste.
• The exclusion of caste enumeration, except for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), reinforced a flawed ideal of caste-blind governance, which neglected the lived realities of millions.
• While the Constitution mandates social justice through affirmative action, including reservations in education, employment, and politics, implementing these policies effectively requires precise, disaggregated caste data.
• The Supreme Court has consistently affirmed that caste is a legitimate proxy for identifying social and educational backwardness.
• In this context, the failure to count caste systematically contradicts constitutional goals.

The Case for Caste Data: Legal, Administrative, and Moral Grounds

• Caste enumeration is not merely a political gesture; it is a legal and administrative necessity.
• The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, which mandated OBC reservations in local governance, require granular, area-specific caste data.
• Furthermore, the inclusion of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) among upper castes in reservation policies in 2019 further underlines the need for comprehensive data covering all caste groups.
• The current reservation system operates in an evidence vacuum, making it susceptible to manipulation by dominant groups.
• Limited existing data shows stark disparities: a small number of OBC castes dominate reservation benefits, while many receive little or nothing.
• For example, just 10 OBC castes receive 25% of all reserved benefits, while 38% of OBC castes receive only 3%, and 37% are entirely excluded.
• Such inequities underscore the need for accurate data to prevent elite capture, enable rational sub-categorisation, and refine the definition of the “creamy layer.”

Learning from Past Mistakes and Successes

• The failed Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) of 2011 is a cautionary tale.
• Conducted without legal authority and technical expertise, the SECC produced an unusable dataset listing 46 lakh castes due to methodological flaws.
• Open-ended questions, untrained enumerators, and the absence of standardised caste classifications led to chaos.
• In contrast, Bihar’s 2022 caste survey offers a successful model.
• By using a vetted list of 214 State-specific castes and structured enumeration methods, the survey achieved clarity and credibility.
• This proves that a well-planned and legally-backed caste census is feasible.

Blueprint for a Credible Caste Census

• Legal Framework: Amend the Census Act, 1948, to explicitly authorise caste enumeration and protect it from political interference.
• Institutional Expertise: Assign responsibility to the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, not to non-specialist ministries.
• Standardised Questionnaire: Employ closed-ended, dropdown-based forms with coded caste identifiers to avoid ambiguity.
• State-Specific Lists: Collaborate with State governments, sociologists, and communities to prepare caste lists, followed by public feedback.
• Enumerator Training: Ensure region-specific training with practical guidance on caste identification.
• Digital Tools: Use handheld devices preloaded with validated options to minimise manual errors.
• Representative Staffing: Deploy diverse enumerator teams in neutral areas to maintain objectivity.
• Oversight Mechanisms: Establish local monitoring bodies to ensure transparency and data integrity.
• Pilot Testing: Conduct pilot studies in diverse States to fine-tune methodologies before a national rollout.

Conclusion

• India has enumerated nearly 2,000 SC and ST castes since 1951 with consistency and accuracy.
• Extending this enumeration to the remaining OBC and upper-caste groups, estimated to be around 4,000 and mostly State-specific, is not only manageable but also essential.
• The delayed 2021 Census offers a unique opportunity to close this long-standing data gap and without caste data, the promise of social justice remains unfulfilled and policy continues to drift in darkness.
• The moment for delay has passed. The time for a credible, comprehensive caste census is now.