Explained: Why There Is A Clamour For Caste-Based Census In India And Who All Are Demanding This
According to the 2011 census, India has a total population of 121 crore. While the census records SC-ST numbers every 10 years, it has never counted OBCs.
New Delhi: There has been a long-pending demand for a caste-based census in India and detailed data and information on the ethnic groups living in the country. In a big step towards this, a delegation of leaders from ten parties, including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to demand a caste-based census.
All these parties are now awaiting PM Modi's response.
India got its first census report in 1881. The exercise takes place every 10 years. The last caste-based census report came in 1931.
Since 1941, the census of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes has been done. The rest of the castes and groups, especially the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), do not have a separate census as only religious figures are published in the report. That is why there has been a demand for a census of ethnic groups in the country for many years now.
India's Religion-Based Population Chart
| Religion | Population* | Percentage |
| Hindu | 96.62 crore | 79.79 |
| Muslim | 17.22 crore | 14.22 |
| Christian | 2.78 crore | 2.29 |
| Sikh | 2.08 crore | 1.72 |
| Buddhist | 84.42 lakh | 0.69 |
| Others | 44.51 lakh | 0.36 |
*The total population of India is 121 crore, according to the 2011 census
Parties Demanding Caste-Based Census
- Janata Dal-United
- RJD
- HUM-Jitan Ram Manjhi
- Samajwadi Party
- Bahujan Samaj Party
- Apna Dal
- RPI(Athawale)
- BJP leader Pankaja Munde
- Biju Janata Dal
- Telugu Desam Party
- YSR Congress Party
Arguments In Favour Of Caste Census
Those demanding a caste-based census believe it will help in designing development programmes, government policies and schemes. They also argue that the census will show which ethnic groups are under-developed and still need an uplift.
With the caste-based census in place, the government will get to know the actual economic, social and educational status of different ethnic groups in the country. Another argument is that if the SC-ST census is done then why other groups should be left out.
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