At a national conference, OBC leaders demanded unique codes for every caste and separate census columns, warning that unscientific enumeration would waste thousands of crores.

  • OBC leaders demand a 'unique code' for every caste to ensure scientific accuracy.
  • Failure to implement coding could lead to the waste of ₹12,800 crore in census spending.
  • Demands include separate columns for OBC and General categories, similar to SC/ST.

During a high-profile national OBC conference held on Sunday, social justice advocates and leaders called upon the Central government to implement mandatory caste coding in the upcoming nationwide Census. The conference, chaired by former IAS officer T. Chiranjeevulu and All India OBC Students Association president G. Kiran Kumar, highlighted the urgent need for a scientifically sound enumeration process.

The central argument presented by the leaders is that without assigning a unique, standardized code to every caste, the resulting census data would be flawed and unreliable. They emphasized that for the Census to be effective, it must provide separate, dedicated columns for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and the General Category, mirroring the existing structure for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the debate over caste-based data is not merely statistical but deeply political. Accurate caste enumeration is the bedrock upon which reservation policies, resource allocation, and social welfare programs are built. Any error in this foundational data could lead to systemic exclusion or misdirected governance.

Conducting a census without scientific caste coding would be an exercise in futility and a massive drain on public resources.

Prominent figures, including DMK leader and Rajya Sabha MP P. Wilson and professor Yogendra Yadav, warned that the approximately ₹12,800 crore budgeted for the Census could be entirely wasted if the process remains unscientific. The leaders cautioned that a lack of consensus on this issue could trigger nationwide protests and movements.

The opposition, led by the Congress party, has also voiced concerns regarding the proposed open-ended format for recording caste details. They argue that India's immense linguistic and regional diversity means a single caste can be identified by various names and sub-castes across different states, making a standardized coding system essential for data integrity.

Historical Background

Caste enumeration has been a cornerstone of Indian sociological study and political mobilization since independence. While the Census has historically tracked various social markers, the specific demand for granular OBC data has intensified in recent years as political parties seek to address representation and equity through targeted policies.

Did You Know?: The upcoming Census is expected to be one of the most expensive and technologically advanced administrative exercises in India's history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Why do OBC groups want unique caste codes?
Answer: To prevent confusion caused by different regional names for the same caste and to ensure scientific data accuracy.

Question 2: What is the financial implication mentioned?
Answer: Leaders warned that the ₹12,800 crore spent on the Census could be wasted if the data collected is not scientifically categorized.