Caste system in India: Why will it be recorded in the next census?

Caste system in India: Why will it be recorded in the next census?

For millions of people in India, a rigid caste system that has existed for thousands of years continues to shape many aspects of daily life - from social circles to dating choices to job opportunities and education. The Indian government has long insisted that hierarchical social structures have no place in the world's most populous nation and banned caste discrimination in 1950. All the more surprising was the announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government that caste would be recorded in the upcoming national census for the first time since 1931 - when India was still a British colony.

A historic step

Recording caste will “ensure that our social cohesion does not come under political pressure,” the government said their press release in April. “This will help society become economically and socially stronger and the country’s progress continue unhindered.” However, the notification did not provide any details on how the caste data will be collected or even when the census will take place, which has been repeatedly postponed since its original date in 2021.

Caste and social inequality

The announcement has reignited a long-standing debate over whether caste registration will support disadvantaged groups or further entrench divisions in society. Poonam Muttreja, executive director of the Population Foundation of India, said a caste census “forces the state to address structural inequalities that are often politically and socially uncomfortable.” The lack of caste data over the past century has left us feeling "virtually blind," Muttreja continued, "designing policies in the dark while claiming to pursue social justice. The next census will therefore be a historical census."

What is caste?

The Indian caste system has its roots in Hindu scriptures and throughout history has divided the population into a hierarchy that defines people's occupations, where they live, and who marry based on the family into which they were born. Today, many non-Hindus in India, including Muslims, Christians, Jains and Buddhists, also identify with particular castes. There are several main castes and thousands of sub-castes - from the Brahmins at the top, who were traditionally priests or scholars, to the Dalits, formerly called "untouchables," who were forced to work as cleaners and garbage collectors.

Persistent inequalities

For centuries, the castes at the lowest level – the Dalits and marginalized indigenous Indians – were viewed as “impure.” In some cases they were even barred from entering the houses or temples of the upper castes and had to eat and drink from separate dishes in common rooms. India sought to make a fresh start after its independence from Britain in 1947 and introduced a number of changes in its new constitution. Specific caste categorizations were introduced to set affirmative action quotas and other benefits - ultimately reserving 50% of government and educational positions for disadvantaged castes. In addition, the concept of “untouchability” was abolished and caste discrimination was banned.

The census between hope and skepticism

The decision to stop counting caste in the census was part of this mission. “After independence, the Indian state deliberately refrained from counting caste in the census,” explained Muttreja. “It was thought that caste should not be emphasized and that in a democracy it would equalize itself.” But that didn't happen. Although the hard boundaries of caste segregation have been weakened over time, particularly in urban areas, significant disparities in wealth, health and educational achievement remain between different castes. The most disadvantaged castes now have higher rates of illiteracy and malnutrition and receive fewer social services such as maternity and reproductive health care, Muttreja added.

Political scope and voter behavior

The ongoing discrepancies have fueled calls for a caste census, with many arguing that data could be used to secure greater government support and redistribute resources to vulnerable groups. In some states - such as Bihar, one of India's poorest states - local authorities have conducted their own polls, prompting calls for Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to follow suit. Now it appears they are doing so.

A political maneuver?

Modi has long resisted attempts to define the population along traditional caste lines, saying that the four "major castes" are the poor, youth, women and farmers - and that promoting them would benefit the development of the entire country. But growing discontent among disadvantaged castes has strengthened opposition parties as national elections approach in 2024. These elections brought a surprising result: although Modi won a third term, the BJP failed to win a majority in Parliament, reducing its power. Modi's opponents see his shift on the caste census as a political maneuver to win support in upcoming state elections, particularly in Bihar - a battleground state where the issue is particularly sensitive.

Controversies and challenges

Not everyone supports the caste census. Opponents argue that the nation should try to move away from these designations rather than formalize them. Some believe that government policies like affirmative action should be based on other criteria, such as socioeconomic class. Muttreja and Desai are of the opinion that a caste census is overdue. They believe that collecting this data will force the government to act and that it can no longer be ignored that caste discrimination still prevails. “Data collection can shape government funding, e.g. in school and health care funding allocations,” said Muttreja. “It helps ensure that quotas reflect actual disadvantages, not just historical precedents.”

Once the new census data is available, the government can optimize the distribution of resources and respond precisely to society's current needs. The discussion about the caste census shows that issues such as social justice and equal opportunities are still very relevant in India.