Caste census: The long and the short of new caste data and its politics
India's political spectrum. Few days ago, the Bihar government released the first part of the caste-based socio-economic survey, which revealed that Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Extremely Backward Castes (EBC) account for 63% of the state’s population. It is for the first time any state has released caste-based population data.
The issue has gained political centrestage with top leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi joining the issue.
A case challenging the caste census is going on in the Supreme Court. The publishing of caste data by the Bihar government might prompt concerns and legal challenges from various quarters.
The Central Government had also entered the legal fray, filing an affidavit with the SC, emphasising that the Census Act, 1948, bestows exclusive authority upon the Central government to conduct census-related activities. However, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy, Tejashwi Yadav, decided to term it a “caste-based headcount”— and not a 'caste census' — to escape legal issues.
What the Bihar caste census revealed
As per the survey, conducted in two phases between January 7 and August 5, EBCs form the largest chunk of the state population, with a 36% share, while OBCs account for 27.12%. The population of the Scheduled Castes has increased to 19.65% from 16% in the 2011 general census.
Muslims account for 17.70%, up from 16.
9% as per the general census of 2011. The population of Hindus is 81.99%, as against 82.7% in 2011. Among OBCs, Yadavs are the dominant group, with a 14.26% share in population, followed by Kushwahas (4.21%).
Kurmis account for 2.87%.
