Caste Enumeration in India’s Next Census

The Union Cabinet has recently approved the inclusion of caste enumeration in the forthcoming Census exercise, scheduled after delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will mark the first comprehensive caste count since the 1931 Census, providing critical data for policy-making and social justice initiatives.

Caste Enumeration in India’s Next Census: Key Developments and Implications

• The Census of India is the largest single source of a vast range of demographic, socio-economic, and housing data in the country.
• Conducted every 10 years under the Census Act, 1948 and Census Rules, 1990.
• The last completed Census was in 2011; the next was scheduled for 2021 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Census is conducted in two phases:
• Phase 1: House listing and housing census
• Phase 2: Population enumeration, including data on individuals

• The upcoming Census will include comprehensive caste enumeration, a major development after nearly a century (last full caste count was in 1931).
• Previously, the Census only enumerated Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) as separate categories.
• Caste enumeration is crucial for:
• Understanding the current social composition of the population
• Designing and implementing affirmative action policies such as reservations in education and employment
• Monitoring socio-economic disparities and planning welfare schemes for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and other groups
• Facilitating academic research and social justice advocacy

• The last comprehensive caste enumeration was during the British era in 1931. Since independence, caste data has been collected only for SCs and STs due to political and administrative reasons.
• There has been longstanding demand from various political parties, social groups, and researchers to resume caste enumeration to better understand caste dynamics and improve policymaking.
• The government’s decision to include caste in the 2027 Census aligns with these demands and aims to generate granular, reliable caste data.

• The Census will use 24 lakh enumeration blocks finalized for the 2021 exercise; these blocks will now be used for the 2027 Census.
• Approximately 30 lakh enumerators will be deployed, including many government school teachers.
• Training manuals are being updated to include instructions on caste enumeration, and special training will be provided on collecting caste data accurately.
• A mobile application will be used for data collection, incorporating a new drop-down menu to record caste details alongside SC/ST categories.
• Caste data will be collected in the second phase (population enumeration).

• Accuracy and Authenticity:
• Self-declared caste information may lead to misreporting, either intentionally or due to lack of awareness of official caste classifications.
• Differentiating between sub-castes, clans, and communities accurately poses challenges.
• Political Sensitivities:
• Caste data can become a politically charged issue, potentially leading to identity politics and social tension.
• There may be resistance or backlash from some groups fearing loss of privileges or changes in reservation policies.
• Data Privacy and Confidentiality:
• Ensuring the privacy of caste data is crucial to maintain public trust.
• The government needs robust legal frameworks to prevent misuse or leakage of sensitive information.
• Operational Complexity:
• Training millions of enumerators to correctly identify and record caste data requires significant resources and planning.
• Harmonizing caste categories with official lists (such as SC/ST/OBC lists) and local variations is a logistical challenge.

• Social Justice:
• Provides the government with updated data to identify deprived communities and target welfare programs more effectively.
• Helps in assessing the socio-economic status of OBCs and other communities that currently lack detailed data.
• Policy Formulation and Monitoring:
• Enables evidence-based policymaking, with allocation of resources according to actual population distribution.
• Assists in evaluating the impact of reservation and affirmative action policies, leading to better policy calibration.
• Academic and Research Use:
• Opens up new avenues for sociological and demographic research on caste dynamics and social stratification.
• Strengthening Federal Governance:
• Allows states to develop region-specific policies based on accurate caste demographics.

• Legal and Institutional Framework:
• Strengthen data protection laws specific to Census data.
• Establish a statutory body or committee to oversee caste data usage and privacy.
• Awareness and Sensitization:
• Conduct nationwide awareness campaigns explaining the importance and confidentiality of caste data.
• Engage civil society and community leaders to encourage accurate reporting.
• Technical Measures:
• Use technology to cross-verify caste data with existing government records (e.g., caste certificates, SC/ST lists).
• Develop a standardized and updated caste classification system to reduce ambiguity.
• Policy Transparency:
• Make aggregated caste data publicly available for transparency and academic use, while ensuring individual anonymity.
• Post-Census Utilization:
• Use caste data to refine reservation policies and to launch new welfare schemes for underserved communities.
• Monitor social mobility trends and inequalities to inform future development plans.