Caste remains a vital axis for political mobilisation in India. How would the caste census address the aspirations of people? Discuss.

Caste as a Vital Axis for Political Mobilisation

In India, caste continues to be a foundational social construct that significantly impacts political behaviour and outcomes. Political parties often strategize around caste equations, identifying candidates, forming alliances, and making electoral appeals based on caste demographics. This phenomenon, often termed 'caste-based vote bank politics', is evident across states, with regional parties frequently emerging as representatives of specific caste groups.

• Electoral Strategy: Parties like the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar, Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh, and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have historically relied on mobilizing specific caste combinations (e.g., Yadavs and Muslims, Dalits) to achieve electoral success.
• Representation Demands: Caste groups often assert their numerical strength to demand greater political representation in legislative bodies and government.
• Policy Influence: Caste-based associations and political groups actively lobby for policies, including reservations, that benefit their respective communities.

How a Caste Census Addresses Aspirations of People

A comprehensive caste census, by providing updated and granular data on caste populations and their socio-economic conditions, is expected to address a multitude of aspirations, particularly of historically marginalized communities.

1. Data-Driven Governance and Targeted Policies

• Accurate Representation: The last comprehensive caste data for all groups dates back to 1931. Current estimates, such as the Mandal Commission's 1980 estimate of 52% OBC population, are outdated. A new census would provide precise demographic data, enabling evidence-based policymaking.
• Effective Resource Allocation: With accurate data, welfare schemes, educational programs, and employment initiatives can be better tailored and targeted to reach the most deprived sections within various caste groups, ensuring more equitable distribution of resources. For instance, the Bihar caste survey (2023) provided detailed figures that are now being used to inform state policies.
• Addressing Intra-Caste Disparities: A caste census can reveal disparities even within broad categories like OBCs, highlighting the need for sub-categorization to ensure that benefits truly reach the 'Extremely Backward Classes' (EBCs) and not just the dominant groups within the category. The Justice Rohini Commission (2017–2023) has been grappling with this issue in the absence of comprehensive data.

2. Strengthening Affirmative Action and Social Justice

• Justification for Reservations: Reservations in education and public employment for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) are constitutional mandates. Updated caste data can provide the empirical basis to review, rationalize, and potentially adjust existing reservation quotas, ensuring they are proportionate to the population and actual backwardness. Article 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution enable the state to make special provisions for socially and educationally backward classes.
• Empowerment of Marginalized Groups: By clearly identifying disadvantaged castes and their socio-economic status, the census can strengthen affirmative action, ensuring that constitutional promises of social justice and equality (Article 46) are met for the most vulnerable. This gives a voice to groups that may have been historically underrepresented or overlooked.

3. Enhanced Political Representation

• Fairer Delimitation: Accurate caste data can inform the delimitation of constituencies, potentially leading to more equitable political representation for various communities, especially in local bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions where reservations for backward classes are mandated (Article 243-D).
• Challenging Dominant Narratives: The census can debunk myths or exaggerated claims about the numerical strength of certain castes, fostering more objective debates on political representation and power-sharing.

4. Social Awareness and Reflection

• National Dialogue: A caste census could initiate a national conversation about the persistence of caste-based inequalities in society, challenging notions of a 'casteless' society and encouraging collective reflection on measures needed for true social cohesion.
• Recognizing Hidden Disparities: It can bring to light the socio-economic conditions of various unreserved castes, including upper castes, helping to understand the overall landscape of privilege and deprivation more accurately.

Challenges and Concerns

While a caste census holds immense potential, it also faces significant criticisms and challenges:

• Reinforcement of Caste Identities: Critics argue that enumerating castes might solidify caste identities, potentially undermining efforts to move towards a casteless society and exacerbating social divisions.
• Political Polarization and Exploitation: There are concerns that caste data could be misused for electoral gains, leading to intensified identity politics and potentially increased social tensions among communities vying for benefits.
• Administrative Complexities: India's vast number of castes and sub-castes, coupled with regional variations and difficulties in accurate classification, pose significant administrative and logistical challenges for conducting a reliable census.
• Demands for Increased Reservations: New data could trigger fresh demands for higher reservations from various groups, potentially breaching the Supreme Court's 50% reservation cap and leading to legal challenges and social unrest.
• Privacy Concerns: Collecting sensitive personal data like caste identity raises questions about data protection and potential misuse.

The table below summarizes the contrasting perspectives on the potential impact of a caste census:

Aspect	Positive Impact (Addressing Aspirations)	Negative Impact (Challenges/Concerns)
Policy Formulation	Data-driven, targeted welfare schemes for marginalized groups (e.g., EBCs).	Risk of data politicization, leading to arbitrary policies for electoral gains.
Affirmative Action	Rationalization of reservations, ensuring equitable benefits based on current data.	Increased demands for reservations, potential breach of 50% cap, social unrest.
Social Cohesion	Increased awareness of disparities, fostering dialogue on social justice.	Reinforcement of caste identities, deepening social divisions.
Political Representation	Fairer delimitation and empowerment of historically underrepresented groups.	Intensification of identity politics, manipulation of data for vote banks.