Caste Census: Implications, Significance, and Political Controversies

May 01, 2025 Komal Das

[{"selector":"#anim-ca016f98-ebae-4e59-9aa4-ebc65e0c9b43 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e8ecbbaa-51a2-422d-bd22-4cebd9d4382e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-47a8d9c6-294c-478e-8221-4c36d8ae1589","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] On April 30, 2025, the Modi-led Cabinet approved caste enumeration in the upcoming Census, a shift from previous BJP resistance, responding to long-standing opposition demands

[{"selector":"#anim-4b6d003a-1fbe-4cc4-96db-98d4cdc950ff [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-4.7175511810859305%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b2cc0df5-d84f-412a-bb60-cc3bde5bd827","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c0d780d-3474-45ab-a514-c5dca20b16d3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The Census, conducted every 10 years, has been delayed since 2021 due to COVID-19. The new date for the Census is still pending

[{"selector":"#anim-a880b607-885d-42e0-9d8a-ed52eac3f1b1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d5c8e1fb-c4ae-4b81-9b99-f660080a8146","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-50c340f4-b4cb-43ac-bcc3-377bf8a66bc0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] A Caste Census will collect data on caste groups, their socio-economic status, and educational background. Caste enumeration was part of the Census until 1951

[{"selector":"#anim-367530c1-25d5-4e93-99cb-ff93c76d9e59 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(6.639516477083898%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-33ec026c-b002-4d7a-b771-4238d2c948fd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-759a7216-c3e0-413c-a8f4-10c5592bc221","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Several states, including Bihar, Telangana, and Karnataka, have already conducted their own caste surveys, influencing the central government's decision

[{"selector":"#anim-de0113e0-6246-4a5a-a60d-4118993918fe [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-13.453757071985805%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74b5f027-4ecd-444e-a0a0-cd8160c5ebc1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c855a70e-99a6-463b-99d3-fef48364bf44","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The BJP’s stance on caste census has shifted. Previously opposed, it now supports caste enumeration, countering opposition social justice politics ahead of elections

[{"selector":"#anim-a1a487b3-caab-4332-b948-daa7ca1e6843 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8fa13b6c-cf89-4a37-bf64-e3efd1318af6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a603d97e-226f-4d0a-a102-152aa2f9a807","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The SECC of 2010 aimed to collect caste data but left it out of the final report. The data remains unpublished and may be used in future policy decisions

[{"selector":"#anim-6b10aee8-6c17-416b-bfd9-cbc4ee79a926 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e907a282-5af1-42b6-88e7-873f8eec6d18","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c4b3ea78-ebf5-48fc-94ce-ac33dfdcb79e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The caste data will affect quotas and reservations, potentially opening a "Pandora's box" in political debates over caste-based policies and quotas in India

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