CASTE LISTING POSES MAJOR CENSUS CHALLENGE, EXPERTS WARN

GS-1: Indian Society

Key Points:

• Experts highlight that compiling a definitive list of castes and communities will be the primary hurdle for caste enumeration in the upcoming Census.
• India lacks a current, comprehensive caste database beyond constitutional SC, ST, and OBC lists.
• The 1931 Census, the last to fully enumerate castes, recorded over 4,147 distinct groups.
• The 2011 SECC failed to produce reliable caste data due to exaggerated responses and classification issues.

In-Depth Analysis: Existing Data Overview:

• The Anthropological Survey of India’s People of India project (1992-1999) identified 4,635 communities, including numerous sub-castes.
• Over 3,651 OBCs, 1,170 SCs, and 850 STs exist, but many are duplicated across states or listed under varying names.

Challenges in Enumeration:

• No standardized caste list exists for enumerators.
• The Registrar General of India must create a consolidated list through public consultations.

• In the 2011 SECC, respondents provided over 46 lakh caste names based on surnames or social identity, rendering the data unusable.

Linguistic and Regional Complexities:

• Enumerators must navigate regional naming variations and linguistic differences within communities.
• Communities may self-identify inconsistently, complicating classification.

Classification Challenges:

• Post-enumeration, grouping castes into categories is difficult.
• The 1931 Census struggled to classify groups, often listing them under overlapping categories like caste, tribe, or race.

Scientific/Technical Terms:

• Census Enumeration: A systematic process to collect socio-demographic data.
• SECC: A 2011 initiative to gather caste and economic data, though its caste findings were not officially released.

Significance:

• Accurate caste enumeration could enable data-driven affirmative action, social justice initiatives, and targeted welfare programs.
• Without methodological rigor, the process risks becoming politicized or statistically flawed.