Question

What is caste census?

Hint:

When discussing the caste census in India, it is important to mention the historical context (last one in 1931) and the recent attempt with the SECC 2011 to provide a complete picture.

Answer 1

A Caste Census is the process of collecting, compiling, and publishing statistical data about the caste-wise distribution of a country's population during a census.
Context in India:

Historical Practice: The British administration in India conducted regular caste censuses until 1931. After independence, the Government of India decided to discontinue this practice for the general census, only enumerating Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

Contemporary Debate: There has been a long-standing political demand for a comprehensive caste census to get accurate data on the population of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and other groups. This data is considered crucial for effective policy-making and for reviewing reservation policies.

SECC 2011: In 2011, the government conducted a Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC), which collected data on caste. However, the raw caste data from this census was not made public due to concerns about its reliability.