Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced to conduct the state caste-based census.Census activities come under the Union List as per the 7th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The decennial census activities are supervised by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner for India under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.The first census in India was conducted in 1872, and the first census of independent India was conducted in 1951, governed by the Census Act of 1948.
Reasons for caste-based census in Rajasthan
- Social Security: The Census is considered essential to identify weaker sections within different castes, with the aim of ensuring social security for them.
- Schemes: This can help target government schemes better, ensuring that benefits reach those who need it most.
- Preventing duplication: The census can also help identify specific sections within castes that require government support in areas such as economics, social welfare and education, thereby reducing duplication of beneficiaries receiving multiple benefits.
Caste-based Census of Bihar
- Caste based census was conducted by the Bihar government in 2023.
- According to the census, more than 63% of the population of Bihar consists of Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBC).
- The Government of Bihar promised the upliftment of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) and OBCs in line with the constitutional provisions and applicable laws.
Legal dispute over caste-based census
- The central government has argued before the Supreme Court that the Census Act of 1948 gives exclusive power to the central government to conduct all census-related activities.
Socio-Economic and Caste Census
- The SECC was initially conducted in 1931 and was intended to assess the economic condition of each Indian household in both rural and urban areas.
- This data can be used to identify indicators of deprivation and inequalities, including those related to caste, providing a more comprehensive view of inequalities.