What Would be the Impact of a National Caste Census on Most Indians?

Political Upheavals Are Happening for a Reason
Newsreel Asia Insight #4
Oct. 5, 2023

The recent findings from Bihar’s caste census have sparked demands for a nationwide survey, calling into question current affirmative action policies and potentially reshaping India’s political landscape. Here are at least four ways such a survey could affect the majority of Indians.

1. Assessing Proportional Fairness of Affirmative Action

Bihar’s caste census revealed that over two-thirds of the state’s population belongs to marginalised communities. Despite this, only 50% of government jobs and educational opportunities are reserved for them.

A national caste census would provide data to assess the fairness of the current affirmative action policies, ensuring that benefits are proportionally distributed. “The lack of recent data meant affirmative action was insufficient and, often, misguided,” writes Kunal Purohit for Al Jazeera.

A caste-based census would set the stage for reforms in affirmative action policies. These policies have traditionally assumed that the remedy for caste-based marginalisation lies in political representation, economic advancement and legal safeguards. However, they have overlooked the dominant social factors contributing to the lack of dignity for lower castes in the perceptions of many Indians.

2. Questioning Prevailing Assumption

A caste-based census could question prevailing assumptions about India’s majority community, which have largely centered on religion as if it were a valid basis for defining a community. This approach seems inequitable when it clubs together historically marginalised and traditionally privileged sections of Hindus for mere political mobilisation.

A shift in focus from religion to caste within the religion could weaken the influence of Hindu nationalist ideology. This ideology currently portrays Hindus as a unified community, thereby minimising the acknowledgment of marginalisation experienced by the majority of Hindus.

The increased awareness of caste distinctions could potentially lead to divisive narratives and conflicts among certain caste communities. However, crafting a non-partisan and objective policy to address marginalisation without causing division may still be within reach for policymakers.

3. Measuring the Prevalence and Severity of Marginalisation in India

A caste-based census would enable the collation of existing economic data to assess how severe and widespread marginalisation and privilege are in India, providing a more nuanced understanding of social dynamics. This information would subsequently assist policymakers in tackling marginalisation in a more focused way.

“The data reiterates how a small proportion of the dominant castes have occupied and controlled everything,” Yashwant Zagade, a research scholar at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, told Al Jazeera. “Experts believe a data-driven conversation around caste will enable a rightful distribution of resources and opportunities,” Sudha Pai, a political scientist, told the news outlet.

4. Spotlighting Governance Shortcomings

A national caste census would highlight governance issues that impact the majority of Indians. For instance, if water scarcity is a significant problem, which communities are most affected? If certain villages are hard to reach, which communities suffer the most? Who lacks access to healthcare facilities? Such a census could yield revealing insights into governance gaps affecting the majority of the population.

“Thanks to these conversations, we will see more welfare programs for the backward castes, more budgetary allocations for them,” as Pai said.

The findings from Bihar have already caused political upheavals.

“Rahul Gandhi, soon after the publication of the report, tweeted that Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes constituted 84% of the population,” reported The Wire.

Most observers believe caste identities will be a major factor in the 2024 general elections. “Political parties will have to build the momentum on the issue,” said research scholar Zagade.