The caste census, debate around it & the Constitution angle

TL;DR

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and other political leaders are demanding a caste-based census in India, which would provide important data for planning welfare schemes and policy-making.

Transcript

subscribe to our youtube channel and press the bell icon to get the latest updates now last week bihar chief minister nitish kumar reaffirmed his demand for a cast based census across the country he upset that the exercise will help in planning welfare schemes for poor other than the dalits and this isn't a new demand in fact this has been a politi... Read More

Key Insights

• 📊 A caste-based census provides vital information for planning welfare schemes and managing programs for marginalized communities, apart from Dalits.
• 🏛️ The Constitution mandates determining the composition of the Lok Sabha and allocation of seats based on population figures from the census.
• 🚫 Caste-based data was last collected in 1931, as post-independence leaders believed it would perpetuate the caste system and deepen social divides.
• 📝 The inclusion of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) data in the census is necessary for identifying and implementing special provisions for their advancement.
• 📚 Backward Classes Commissions have faced difficulties in identifying OBCs due to the lack of caste population figures in the census.
• 🔐 Experts argue that caste particulars should be collected in the census to determine backward class representation in state services and for educational comparisons.
• 💥 Demand for a caste-based census is not new and has been made by various state governments, political parties, and leaders over the years.
• 📉 The fourth socio-economic and caste census (SECC) was conducted in 2011, covering 24.29 crore households, but the caste data has not been released yet.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why is there a demand for a caste-based census in India?

The demand for a caste-based census in India stems from the need to gather accurate data on caste populations for policy-making and welfare schemes. It is believed that this data would help in identifying socially and educationally backward classes and ensuring adequate representation in government services.

Q: How does the census impact the determination of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies?

Seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies are allocated based on the population figures obtained from the census. The ratios between the number of seats allotted to each state and their respective populations need to be constant as much as possible to ensure fair representation.

Q: Why haven't backward classes (OBCs) and other castes been included in the census?

Backward classes (OBCs) and other castes have not been included in the census since 1931. It is believed that some leaders thought including this data would perpetuate the caste system and deepen social divides. However, experts argue that collecting caste population figures is crucial for identifying backward classes and ensuring their representation.

Q: What was the outcome of the fourth socio-economic and caste census (SECC) conducted in 2011?

The fourth SECC conducted in 2011 collected data on the size and characteristics of households across India. It identified 46 lakh distinct caste names, including subcasts, surnames, clans, and variations. However, the caste data was never released to the public, and the government decided not to enumerate caste-wise population in subsequent censuses.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• A caste-based census collects data on the size, distribution, and characteristics of the population, which helps in planning welfare schemes and policy-making.

• The Indian Constitution mandates the determination and allocation of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies based on population figures from the census.

• Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are included in the census, but backward classes (OBCs) and other castes are not, despite demands from experts and political leaders.