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NDTV
a day ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Caste, Not Class, Will Be Counted In 2027 Population Census: Sources
New Delhi: Caste, and not class, will be taken into consideration during the exhaustive count of the population of the country that will be held in 2026-2027, sources said on Thursday. Each person will have to mention their caste and religion for the 16th Census that will be conducted in two phases in 2027. "Along with religion, everyone will have to declare their caste, irrespective of whether one is from the general category, OBC or Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe category," a source said. Explaining the need to specify the caste, rather than class, the source said there is no unified or single list for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), unlike the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). "The OBC list varies from state to state and that from the Centre," the source said. Two separate lists of OBCs are maintained - the central list is maintained by the National Commission for Backward Classes and used for reference in providing reservations in central government jobs and educational institutes; the state lists are managed by the respective governments and are often longer and more extensive than the central list. On Wednesday, the Union Home Ministry announced that India's 16th Census with caste enumeration will be carried out in 2027 with the reference date of October 1, 2026 in snow-bound areas like Ladakh and of March 1, 2027 in the rest of the country. The Census is being carried out after a gap of 16 years as the last one was held in 2011. More than 30 lakh enumerators and their supervisors are likely to be engaged to carry out the mega exercise. It will also be the first digital Census giving the citizens an opportunity to self-enumerate. The population of the country as per the Census 2011 was 1210.19 million of which 623.72 million (51.54 per cent) were males and 586.46 million (48.46 per cent) were females.
Hans India
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Govt fully prepared to act against Pahalgam perpetrators: NCBC chief Hansraj Ahir
Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes and former Minister of State for Home Affairs, strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, saying the government is fully prepared to respond and will not spare anyone involved in such acts. Speaking to IANS, Ahir said: "After such attacks, it is natural for people to be angry, but the government is taking strong steps and will continue to do so. Our country shares borders with multiple nations, and terrorists take advantage of any opportunity to infiltrate. But they are cowards, cowards who kill innocent people. The government is capable of taking solid steps against such acts." Recalling his tenure in the Home Ministry, he emphasised the progress made in securing India's borders: "I was myself the Minister of State for Home Affairs. I know how much work the government has done regarding the borders. Highways have been built in border areas. Earlier, there was a lot of insurgency in the Northeast, but now it is peaceful. Even insurgents have cooled down. Elections are held properly in state governments, and people come out to vote." He further stressed the vigilance of the armed forces and the government. "To deal with these kinds of secret, cowardly attacks, the government and the army are always alert. I have worked on this; I know how seriously the government operates," he claimed. On being asked about action against Pakistan, Ahir replied bluntly: "Whenever we retaliated against such behaviour of Pakistan, we never spared them. The government has always dealt with them strictly and firmly, and we will continue to do so. But this is not a cricket ground that today we go and do some good batting, it is not like that. This is a matter of two nations." He elaborated on the complexity of the issue: "This is a matter between two countries, and it is a very serious situation. Our population is larger and our borders are longer, but the government will act thoughtfully; it will not leave them." Assuring the nation of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's resolve, Ahir stated: "It is certain that under the leadership of PM Modi, the government will not tolerate such actions by Pakistan. The terrorists and Pakistanis have committed an unforgivable crime. The government is not in the mindset to forgive them, we will act at the appropriate time." He also warned political opponents to be cautious with their words: "Those who make statements should think that they should not make such remarks on matters of national security. It is a matter of national protection." In conclusion, he affirmed the government's capability and commitment: "The government's intention is clear, it is capable, and we respond with strength. Not just Pakistan, but even China, we have given a proper reply to them too. We should trust our government. The opposition must understand that they should not weaken the country with their statements."
Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
SECC 2011 didn't follow sound process, lakhs of groups noted, upcoming census will be streamlined: Backward classes panel chief Ahir
As the Centre announced a new caste census, National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) chairperson Hansraj Ahir has raised questions over how the 2011 socio-economic caste census (SECC) was conducted. A former Union minister, Ahir's comments are significant as he heads NCBC, which safeguards the rights of socially and economically backward classes (SEBC), looks into complaints, and advises the government on the group's welfare. The body received constitutional status in 2018 under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. Ahir believes that the recently announced caste census by the Centre would be 'more streamlined' compared to 2011. 'The Proforma or forms used during the 2011 Census were not sound, and the survey eventually ended up only being an economic one as caste data was excluded,' Ahir told The Indian Express. 'Lakhs of caste groups were noted during the survey as people even mentioned their village names, and gotra (lineage or clan) as caste groups, and it became a mess,' he said. 'There was no firm stand taken by the government of the day. They did not follow the word they had given in Parliament,' he added. The 2011 survey was carried out under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Ahir, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Maharashtra, was a member of Lok Sabha at that time. 'Back in 2011, I was a Member of Parliament and had actively taken feedback from the ground on the SECC survey. It was full of gaps. Moreover, I also had the opportunity to handle the matter later on as Minister of State for Home Affairs, and hence I am aware that the SECC data was not carried out properly. Those who went for enumeration were not completely trained for the exercise, and gaps in the overall process reflected in the outcome,' Ahir said. The 2011 Census was followed by SECC 2011, under which data on individual castes and tribes was collected between 2011 and 2013. Findings of parts of the survey, which included several parameters, were published in 2016. While, total number of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes population was released, data on caste populations was never made public. 'I believe the government has thought through its decision, and the upcoming caste census would be streamlined and transparent,' he said. Even though the government has announced its decision to carry out a caste census, it has not specified a timeline as yet. An important function of NCBC, headed by Ahir, is to scrutinise state government proposals to add caste groups to the central list of the Other Backward Classes, so that they benefit from reservations in central government jobs and educational institutions. State governments have to back their proposals with socio-economic and educational data to satisfy the commission on the backwardness of communities. The commission then vets the data and recommends it to the Centre for their approval. Subsequently, the Centre then notifies the recommended list of castes.
Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Before caste census, the first steps: how to count the OBCs, general category castes
Will Other Backward Classes (OBCs) be counted as per the Central or state lists? Should every caste group — even those in the general category — be counted separately? These are the key questions before the government as it moves to operationalise its decision to include caste in the next Census, former officers involved with the Census exercise tell The Indian Express. The final decisions on these challenges, they add, will be 'political calls'. Unlike the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), who are enumerated based on official lists notified under constitutional orders of 1950, there is no unified or single list for OBCs. The SC or ST lists, which currently include 1,170 SC castes and 890 ST communities, are periodically updated through parliamentary amendments. In the case of the OBCs, two separate lists are maintained. The National Commission for Backward Classes has a Central list that is used for reservations in Central government jobs and educational institutions. Simultaneously, each state maintains its own OBC list that differs from — and is often more extensive than — the Central list. The government now faces a critical choice: whether to limit OBC enumeration to the Central list of 2,650 communities or to expand the exercise by incorporating the various state lists — a decision that is as politically sensitive as it is administratively complex. The second key question is whether caste enumeration should cover all castes, including those in the 'general category'. Currently, during the Census, SC and ST respondents specify their particular caste or tribe, which enumerators then match against pre-approved lists. However, the general category is enumerated as one single bloc. The recent caste surveys done by Bihar and Telangana counted individual caste groups under the general category. The Bihar caste survey counted 214 castes in total as per the state government list. This included 22 in the SC category and 32 and 30 in the ST and OBC groups, respectively. While 113 castes were identified as Extremely Backward Classes, seven were placed in the Upper Caste category . In Telangana, the caste survey enumerated individual groups in the general or Other Castes (OC) category. While the findings of the survey placed the general category population in the state at 15.79% of the population, the full caste survey report, including a breakdown of specific dominant caste groups such as the Reddys, has not been released. The state government has said it cannot disclose the Telangana numbers due to 'personal data protection guidelines.' While carrying out the surveys in Bihar and Telangana, individuals were not asked for documents or proof of caste. 'The submission on caste was made purely on a voluntary basis. We believe that people do not lie about their caste, so we went by what they revealed,' said a senior official who was involved with the caste survey in Telangana. The process and the timeframe While the caste enumeration announcement might have given a boost to the BJP 's narrative of making big policy moves, the Congress and the Opposition are now asking for a timeframe for when the Census to which it is linked will finally be carried out. The last Census exercise was conducted in 2011. Sources in the Registrar General and Census Commissioner's office say the process is expected to mirror the preparation undertaken for the 2020 Census, which was eventually suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. By conservative estimates, the government will need at least six months of preparation before it can begin enumeration. The first step is to issue a notification in the Official Gazette declaring its intent to conduct the Census. This must then be followed by similar notifications from all state governments — a process that could take up to two months. Once these are in place, the proforma for the house listing and population enumeration phases will have to be formally notified. The suspended 2021 Census was set to be the first to use digital enumeration, with officials collecting data via electronic forms rather than pen and paper. With the inclusion of caste as one of the columns, the software will now need to be updated to include a new field for OBCs, along with a drop-down menu of sub-categories. Enumerators will also need to be retrained, with many involved in the previous exercise now retiring. Training alone typically takes up to two months, sources said. 'Nearly 80% of the work will have to be done during the preparation phase. Only 20% is after data collection. The adoption of technology will significantly reduce the manual effort required to tabulate data, which earlier took months — sometimes years,' an officer said.
New Indian Express
01-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
With national caste census announced, CM may change tactics on Karnataka report
BENGALURU: The Union Government's announcement on Wednesday that The two dominant communities have termed the census 'unscientific' and demanded a fresh survey to determine populations of communities. They have argued that the state's caste census is decade old and obsolete. For the national caste census, the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) is likely to take up the task as caste is included in the national census, experts said. It is to be seen whether NCBC commissions the census to the state backward classes commission, they added. In the changed scenario, the Siddaramaiah cabinet may keep aside caste-wise population figures and debate on the data on the status of communities. A special cabinet meeting was scheduled for May 2 to discuss the caste census, but the meeting has been postponed indefinitely. The April 17 special cabinet meeting, called specifically to discuss caste census, remained inconclusive as ministers refused to accept the report. Siddaramaiah then asked them to go through specific data on the status of communities, sources said. Out of 41 volumes, data nine throws light on the status of communities including the political aspect of communities. Siddaramaiah asked officials to furnish exhaustive data on it to ministers. 'More than the population of communities which became a contentious issue, the debate on the status of communities is more important,' a Siddaramaiah sympathiser said. This will help the CM defend the commission's recommendation to increase the quota for Veerashaiva Lingayats from 4 to 8% under 3B category and 3 to 7% for Vokkaligas under 3A. State's backward classes commissions in the past had recommended taking away quota from the socially and educationally forward communities in the state. The Article 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution allows states to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes Political scientist Prof Sandeep Shastri recalled that the Havanuru commission had recommended taking away the reservation for Veerashaiva-Lingayats and Vokkaligas, whereas the Venkatswamy commission had recommended taking away the Veerashaiva-Lingayat quota. After 1956, these two communities constituted a majority of MLAs in all assemblies, he pointed out. 'Caste is an important political identity in modern India and it may not have anything to do with the traditional ritual and hierarchy it represents. Though of course, there are forms of injustice still continued, but today in politics caste is an important identity which everyone uses for their advantage and for their group consolidations, as a result caste has become an identity and it's important for caste leaders to emphasise on how large and significant their caste group is. Caste group leaders would like to emphasise the strength and importance of their group and their strategic relevance,' he analysed.
