Paper: GS – II, Subject: Governance, Topic: Important aspects of governance, Issue: Implications of census and delimitation on Indian politics.
Context:
The Census 2026–27 will be the first post-independence national census to count caste data for all communities. It coincides with the new delimitation exercise—both are likely to reshape Indian politics.
Key Highlights:
Caste Census:
- First all-India caste-census since 1931. Previous post-independence censuses only counted SC/STs.
- State-specific surveys done recently (e.g., Bihar, Karnataka, Telangana).
| Historical Background:1931: Last caste-census before independence.Post-1931: India avoided full caste enumeration to reduce casteism.2002 NDA Govt (Vajpayee era) froze seat distribution till 2026.Rise of Mandal politics in the 1990s consolidated backward class identity. Reservations in educational and employment opportunities for OBCs |
Delimitation Exercise:
- Redrawing of constituencies based on population. It will affect political weight of states in Parliament
- Last done using 2001-Census data; upcoming one will use 2021 population base.
Implications of both:
Political Significance:
Statistical Impact:
- Will end the statistical anonymity of so-called ‘upper castes’.
- May expose economic and social disparities in state-sponsored benefits.
- Offers a reality check on the claim that upper castes are a small but dominant group.
Aggregation vs Disaggregation:
Earlier censuses helped aggregate castes into broad clusters (e.g., OBCs). The new census will disaggregate caste data, identifying:
- Inequalities within groups (e.g., creamy layer within OBCs),
- Dominant castes vs subaltern castes in same categories.
Policy Targeting:
- Accurate welfare targeting for backward castes.
- Basis for rationalizing reservations and benefit distribution.
Electoral Rebalancing:
Southern states (lower population growth) may lose relative weight while Northern states (higher population) may gain seats in Parliament.
Rise in Identity Politics:
- Greater assertion of sub-caste and regional caste groups.
- New coalitions and caste mobilisations likely to rise.
Challenges:
- Data sensitivity: May provoke resistance from dominant groups.
- Political misuse: It could reinforce caste-based voting.
- Social fragmentation: Risk of deepening caste divides.
Conclusion:
Census 2026–27 will serve as a “selfie of the nation”, revealing the real structure of Indian society. It must be approached not with fear, but with transparency and purpose, for inclusive governance.
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