For the first time since 1931, the national Census will include detailed caste data, beyond just SC, ST, and religion categories.
The goal is to improve understanding of how reservation benefits are accessed and identify groups being left out.
There are growing calls for applying the "creamy layer" rule (excluding the better-off) within SCs and STs, and for breaking larger groups into sub-categories to help smaller or more backward ones.
The Supreme Court allowed sub-categorisation within SCs and STs; a commission also studied sub-groups within OBCs, but the report remains unpublished due to its sensitive findings.
Caste remains a major factor in politics and society, and updated data is key for fairer development planning.
However, breaking caste groups into too many categories can lead to endless dissatisfaction and disputes.
Collecting accurate caste data is difficult due to varied local terms, overlapping identities, and lack of a complete caste list (except SC, ST, OBC lists).
The 2011 SECC recorded over 46 lakh caste names, showing confusion and inconsistency in how people identify caste.
Legal cases on whether certain groups qualify as caste, tribe, or backward class are still common in courts.
This Census could help build clarity and consensus on caste classification—but only if handled carefully and with political agreement.
Past state-level caste surveys in Bihar, Karnataka, and Telangana stirred political controversy, showing the process can be volatile.
A national consensus on how caste data is collected and used is necessary to ensure credibility and prevent future disputes.
COMMENTS