Caste Census: Who counts, who doesn’t, and why it matters

In a move with far-reaching implications for the country’s socio-political landscape, the Union Cabinet announced on April 30 that the upcoming population survey will include a caste census. This decision follows years of growing demand, driven by the political assertion of historically marginalised communities, the precedent set by state-level surveys such as Bihar’s (joined this year by Karnataka and Telangana), and increasing dissatisfaction with outdated and incomplete data underpinning current models of affirmative action.

This Frontline package explores what this moment signifies—and what lies ahead. At its core is a crucial question: Who gets counted, and who gets left out?

In her article, “The Case for a Caste Census,” Divya Trivedi traces the historical and legal roots of the demand, arguing that updated caste data is essential for equitable public policy. Without such empirical grounding, debates on reservations, representation, and welfare remain speculative.

In an in-depth interview with Anand Mishra, former Rajya Sabha member Ali Anwar Ansari reflects on the political invisibility of Pasmanda Muslims and warns against reducing them to an electoral bloc. His insights underscore the need to understand caste as it intersects with religion, class, and region.

As the national conversation intensifies, states continue to confront the political and logistical challenges of caste enumeration. In Karnataka, reporter Vikhar Ahmed Sayeed finds the state entangled in political dilemmas, administrative inertia, and resistance from dominant communities. Meanwhile, Bihar’s 2023 caste survey—examined by Anand Mishra and Harish S. Wankhede—has revealed cracks in the BJP’s Hindutva unity project and reignited debates on social justice. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Ayesha Minhaz illustrates how governments are linking caste data collection to promises of data-driven governance, while facing scrutiny over methodology and intent.

In a revealing interview, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav contends that reservations should reflect social hierarchies, not just economic disadvantage. This evolving narrative pits the language of social justice against that of majoritarian nationalism—a tension Frontline’s political newsletter Power Play highlights, particularly the ideological unease within the RSS-BJP combine over the caste question.

This package, rich with insight into the political, social, and moral dimensions of the issue, culminates in Vaishna Roy’s Editor’s Note, which poses a fundamental question: Can the diverse and oppressed ‘Davids’ of Indian society confront and transform the Goliath of caste-based inequality?

Read on to find out.