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19 May 2025 : A caste census is not a silver bullet for social justice

Editorial 1: A caste census is not a silver bullet for social justice

Context

Elevating Census data as essential for justice or policymaking is a misguided distortion of its true purpose.

 

Introduction

Census data have traditionally served as the foundation of public policymaking in India, providing vital insights into areas like health, education, employment, and housing. Against this backdrop, the Narendra Modi government’sdecision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming national Census has garnered significant attention. For many, it marks a long-awaited step toward gathering reliable data to better address the needs of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). However, the disproportionate focus on the caste census raises doubts about the intentions and commitmentof the ruling government, suggesting that welfare policies for marginalised groups have been unjustifiably delayedunder the guise of needing more accurate data.

 

The merit of caste census

What are the key aspects?

Reasons

Rationale for Caste Census

Supporters argue that a caste census offers an empirical basis to evaluate the socio-economic conditions of different caste groups, especially OBCs.

Use for Affirmative Action

They believe such data would support targeted affirmative action and help the state justify welfare schemes in courts, which often question the credibility of surveys and commission reports.

Intra-Group Analysis

Disaggregated data within the OBCs can expose intra-group disparities, aiding in policy development for Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs).

Cautionary Note

While valid, these claims may overestimate the potential of a caste census.

Institutional Practice

Caste enumeration should be a routine institutional activity in a diverse society like India.

Flawed Elevation of Role

Treating Census data as a prerequisite for justice or as the central basis for policy is a misguided and risky interpretation.

Role of Registrar General

The Registrar General of India is tasked with collecting neutral, factual data—not with guiding policy decisions.

Risk of Politicisation

Using the Census for political reform strains its mandate and risks politicising the institution.

Need for Objectivity

In a polarised political climate, it's crucial to preserve the objectivity of Census operations.

Policy Responsibility

It is the duty of the political leadership to frame welfare policies using the best available evidence, not to defer action awaiting more data.

 

 

Caste-Based Inequality and Policy Response in India

  • Social justice policies such as reservations, land reforms, and the Mandal Commission’s implementation were introduced without dependence on comprehensive statistical data.
  • Public policy in India has often been influenced by electoral calculations, ideological positions, and public mobilisations, rather than by survey-based evidence.
  • The EWS reservation implemented by the Modi government was not backed by detailed statistical findings or a commission report, but demonstrates the government's authority to enact such measures.
  • Since Independence, Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) have been included in the decennial Census, and their educational, economic, and social disadvantages are consistently reflected in national surveys such as the NSSO and NFHS.
  • Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) continues to show an increase in crimes against SCs and STs, including sexual violence and offences under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
  • The Bihar Caste Survey and the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) reveal substantial economic vulnerability and internal diversity within the OBC category.
  • Findings indicate that a majority of OBCs are employed in informal, insecure, and low-income jobs, lacking social security and upward mobility.
  • Despite the availability of extensive caste-related data, the central government has not introduced any major policy reforms to address these issues at the national level.
  • Research shows that in key sectors of the private economy—such as corporates, the IT industry, and media houses—the representation of SCs, STs, and OBCs remains limited.
  • These groups also face underrepresentation in state-run institutions, particularly in higher education, the judiciary, and the top administrative services.

 

Social justice needs robust political will

  • Surveys, reports, and research show that data alone does not shape public policy in India.
  • It is the intent of the ruling class and democratic public pressure that truly drive policy decisions.
  • A caste census may offer better insights, but it cannot solve problems on its own.
  • Data serves as a guide, but it cannot lead the way without direction.
  • For a just and inclusive future, India needs the moral and political imagination of its leaders.
  • Without political will, even the best evidence remains unused and ineffective.

 

Conclusion

The true challenge for the current national government is not merely gathering data on caste-based socio-economic divisions, but in boldly and sincerely implementing effective policies aimed at uplifting the most disadvantaged sections of society.