In Census, caste category must not be open-ended, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The rehearsal for the second phase of Census 2027 includes an "open column" for recording caste, raising concerns about data accuracy and usability.
• Previous experience from the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 showed that an open-ended approach led to over 46 lakh varied caste entries, rendering the data unclassifiable for policy purposes.
• In contrast, recent state-level exercises like the Bihar Caste Survey (2023) and the Telangana Socio-Economic, Educational, Employment, Political and Caste Survey (2024) successfully enumerated castes by using standardized coding methodologies and officially recognized lists.
• Census 2027 is set to be India's first digital census and will collect caste data beyond Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) for the first time since 1931.
• An expert committee is proposed to determine an authoritative source for caste coding, potentially drawing from state-wise lists, the central list of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) maintained by the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), and the database of the Anthropological Survey of India.

Detailed Insights:

• The "open column" approach in caste enumeration can lead to inconsistencies due to spelling variations, regional names, sub-castes, and synonyms, making data aggregation difficult.
• The SECC 2011 data on caste was not officially released for policy use due to these classification challenges.
• Historically, the 1931 Census recorded approximately 4,147 castes, while the Anthropological Survey of India identified around 6,325 castes in 1951, indicating the complexity of caste identification.
• The Bihar Caste Survey (2023) identified 209 castes, including 112 Extremely Backward Classes, 30 OBCs, 22 SCs, 32 STs, seven Upper Castes, and two Other Related Castes.
• The Telangana SEEEPC Survey (2024) identified 242 castes, comprising 133 Backward Classes, 59 Scheduled Castes, 32 Scheduled Tribes, and 18 Other Castes.
• The success of these state surveys highlights the importance of a predefined, standardized coding framework for accurate caste enumeration.
• The proposed expert committee for Census 2027 would be crucial in harmonizing various existing caste lists and accommodating state-specific variations.
• The identification of Upper Castes can leverage the existing administrative basis for issuing Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) certificates, which are provided to communities not included in SC, ST, or OBC categories.
• An accurate caste census is vital for identifying deprivation, measuring inequality, and formulating targeted policies for socially and educationally backward communities.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Census: A decennial official enumeration of the population, collecting demographic, social, and economic data.
• Caste Enumeration: The process of systematically collecting data on individuals' caste identities during a census or survey.
• Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC): A comprehensive exercise to collect data on socio-economic status and caste, last conducted in 2011.
• National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC): A constitutional body responsible for safeguarding the rights and welfare of socially and educationally backward classes.
• Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): A category for general category citizens with an annual family income below ₹8 lakh, eligible for 10% reservation.