In brief
The upcoming national census in India, set for 2027, will for the first time count every caste, a move that has stirred significant debate among scholars, activists, and politicians. Proponents argue it could lead to a fairer distribution of government benefits and a better understanding of social needs, while critics warn it may reinforce discriminatory practices and deepen societal divides. The discussions reflect on India's complex social structure and the historical context behind caste counting.
Counting castes in India has always been about more than numbers - it is about who gets a share of government benefits and who doesn't.
The upcoming national census, scheduled for 2027, will - for the first time in nearly a century - count every caste, a social hierarchy that has long outlived kingdoms, empires, and ideologies. This decision ends decades of political hesitation and follows pressure from opposition parties and at least three states that have already conducted their own surveys.
A 2011 survey - neither conducted nor verified by census authorities nor released by the government - recorded an astonishing 4.6 million caste names.
A full count of castes promises a clearer picture of who truly benefits from affirmative action and who gets left behind. Supporters advocate that it could make welfare spending more precise and help adjust quotas in jobs and education with hard evidence.
However, in a provocative new book titled The Caste Con Census, scholar-activist Anand Teltumbde cautions that the exercise may further entrench the deeply ingrained caste system instead of dismantling it.
The argument challenges the prevailing belief that greater data will yield fairer policy. Teltumbde implies that castes are 'too pernicious to be managed for any progressive purpose', stating it is a hierarchy with motives that refuse measurement.
Teltumbde's critiques extend to the historical context, suggesting that the modern caste census resembles a colonial echo. British administrators initiated caste counting in 1871, which became an effective tool of imperial control, solidifying social divisions.
He warns that the forthcoming census will not address inequality but instead entrench it, with politics reduced to managing quotas rather than addressing the underlying issues of injustice.
Conversely, many scholars see the census as essential for social justice, highlighting that caste data is vital for understanding both privilege and deprivation. Sociologists and political scientists argue that a caste census could shift India toward a rights-based welfare system, ensuring resources are properly allocated based on need.
However, the implementation of such census data is fraught with challenges, including how to classify the numerous sub-castes and whether that classification can reveal truly vulnerable populations.
As opinions clash on the path forward, the upcoming caste census stands as a pivotal moment for India, reflecting deep-rooted conflicts and divergent visions for a just society.
