Caste based census in India

Subject – Polity

Context – Several political parties are demanding caste-based census in India.

Concept –

The First Census conducted in 1871 included questions about caste.
This data was then used to divide and conquer India.
It first privileged Brahmins as interpreters of Indian culture and then targeted them as the root of caste-based oppression and inequality.
This classification was also a source of anti-Brahmin movements of 20th century
Every Census in independent India from 1951 to 2011 has published data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, but not on other castes.
Before that, every Census until 1931 had data on caste. However, in 1941, caste-based data was collected but not published.
Hence, in the absence of such a census, there is no proper estimate for the population of OBCs.
The Mandal Commission estimated the OBC population at 52%. Some other estimates have been based on National Sample Survey data.

Difference between Census & SECC:

The Census provides a portrait of the Indian population, while the SECC is a tool to identify beneficiaries of state support.
Since the Census falls under the Census Act of 1948, all data are considered confidential, whereas all the personal information given in the SECC is open for use by Government departments to grant and/or restrict benefits to households.

To know more about Census, please click here.