Inclusion of Caste Details in India's Next Census
India will include caste details in its next census, likely impacting socio-economic and political aspects of the country. The decision aims to update social justice programs and quotas for government jobs, college admissions, and elected offices.
Key Points
- Caste is critical to Indian life and politics
- Limited or outdated data on caste demographics
- Successive governments resisted updating caste data
- Census was originally due in 2021, delayed by COVID-19
- India surpassed China in population in April 2023
Pros
- Update social justice programs
- Improve transparency
- Empower economically and socially backward sections
Cons
- Potential for social unrest
- Deepening social divisions