n the lead up to the legislative assembly elections in Rajasthan, the political temperature is not the only thing on the rise; discussions around caste-based issues are also heating up. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has recently intensified the debate on conducting a caste-based census across India.
In a recent event in Dholpur, Gehlot stated that the Central Government should instigate a caste-based census, thereby offering different social groups the opportunity to benefit from reservations based on their population size. A similar demand had previously been made by Congress during their Chhattisgarh convention. The issue of caste-based census has been a hot topic nationwide, and has even reached the Supreme Court, with a hearing scheduled for July3rd. The Bihar Government had initiated such a census, but it was halted by a High Court injunction. One of the primary concerns behind the debate is the reservation system, with the Other Backward Classes (OBC) demographic demanding an increase in their reservation quota from the existing 21% to 27%. Gehlot’s backing of this demand is seen by some as a potential political advantage for Congress.
Speaking at a public meeting in Dholpur, Gehlot argued that a caste-based census would not harm anyone but would rather benefit all social groups. He stated that knowing the population of each caste is crucial for providing proportional reservation benefits. He also assured that if the demand for caste-based census is made unitedly, the Central Government will have to yield.
Gehlot also emphasized that the OBC community, a considerable demographic, has been consistently advocating for a caste-based census. Congress has strongly supported this issue to gain the support of the OBC community. In contrast, BJP leaders have questioned why Congress did not initiate a caste-based census when it was in power.
Prior to India’s independence, caste-based censuses were conducted, however, since the first census in 1951, only people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Tribes have been categorized based on their caste. A social economic caste census was conducted in 2011, but its data was never published. According to the Constitution, a caste-based census cannot be conducted in India, as it only recognizes population, not caste or religion.
With the issue now back in the spotlight, all eyes are on the Central Government’s decision, and how far Congress will go to push this matter
