Currently the caste-census in India is the talk of the town and it has become a political tool for the government runners and the opposition. Here arises the questions- Why was the caste census needed? Who raised the voice for its initiation? How was the government forced to bow down? What shall be the effects of this census? Will it benefit the lower strata of the society? Let us have an eye on the Indian society for getting the answers.

Centuries ago, Indian society was structured into four Varans: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. These varnas represented different social classes with distinct roles and duties. Initially, these varnas were based on occupation and were somewhat flexible, but over time, they became more rigid and evolved into the caste system. Shudras were kept at the lowest ring and this fourth-grade category had been the most sufferer one and still its woes are not over.

During the British era also they were treated as untouchables. Dr. Ambedkar, (Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar), an Indian jurist, economist, social reformer and statesman who chaired the committee that drafted the Constitution of India, had played an important role to aware of the lower strata to educate themselves to grow with the changing scenario and to get equal status in the society.

 The Manu wadi system, enforced centuries ago, was still running under British rule in India, as this suited them for easy governance over the Indian society. Dr. Ambedkar adduced, “During the British rule, the field of education was deliberately kept confined to the upper classes, as the British feared that the spread of education among the members of lower classes might jeopardize their existence in India. The worst sufferers of such an education policy were the untouchables.”

What’s the present position?

These fourth-grade people are still suppressed, depressed and harassed at every step. They are still not getting equal status, not only in the society, but also in governance. Still their marriage processions are barred, when they try to celebrate like higher strata. Still their chances for getting better creamy posts in the governance are barricaded at every stage. Still, they are deprived of the better education and barricaded to get space in educational institutes to work as teachers. 

In a reply to a question in Rajya Sabha from RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha, Union MoS for Education Sukanta Majumdar, on 23 July, presented the data on the category-wise number of sanctioned posts and number of positions filled for professors, associate professors, and assistant professors as of June 30, 2025.

As per data, mentioned by Indian Express, under OBC category, posts sanctioned for professors – 80% posts are vacant.  For the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, 83% of posts are vacant, while 64% of posts sanctioned are vacant in the Scheduled Caste (SC) category.

For associate professors, around 65% of sanctioned posts for the ST category and 69% in OBC category were vacant. In SC category, 51% of posts were vacant, whereas under general category only 16% of posts were vacant, thus 84 percent of general category posts were filled. What does it show? Why are the reserved seats not being filled, when every year thousands of reserved category persons clear the required qualifications as NET and PhD? Why are they being deprived of their rightful share?

If we analyse the figures of vacant seats reserved for SC/ST and OBCs in government run central universities, don’t these reveal the plight of these socially depressed categories and show how inconsiderate the central government is about the upliftment of these long-neglected segments? Don’t these data also support the allegations levelled by the Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, that the candidates from SC, ST, and OBC communities are being deliberately declared ‘Not Found Suitable’ to keep them away from education and leadership? 

Rahul Gandhi states – These figures presented by the Modi government in Parliament are solid proof of Bahujans (The lower strata comprising SC/ST/OBCs) being deprived of their rights and institutional Manuism (Manuvad).

In a tweet in Hindi on July 25,2025, Gandhi writes – “This is not just negligence, it is a well-planned conspiracy to keep Bahujans out of education, research and policies.”

He adds, “Due to lack of adequate participation of Bahujans in universities, the problems of deprived communities are deliberately hidden from research and discussion.”

Here the question arises- “How is this stratum being kept out of the consideration zone?” Rahul Gandhi in his tweet says- “In the name of NFS (Not Found Suitable), thousands of deserving SC, ST, OBC candidates are being declared ineligible under Manuwadi thinking and the government is not ready to take any responsibility.”

Gandhi demands, “This is completely unacceptable. All vacant posts should be filled immediately – Bahujans should get their rights, not Manuwadi boycott.” 

Will Caste-based census help this stratum to rise up?

Addressing a rally during Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra at Aurangabad in Bihar, on February 16,2024, Rahul Gandhi questioned, “How many people from the OBC, Dalit, tribal communities own big companies or high posts?”

“The posts are mostly occupied by the people of the upper castes. They are occupying those posts in hospitals, colleges, media and others. This is why poor people belonging to OBC, SC, ST and minorities are not getting justice in the country. To bring justice to them, caste-based census is the tool and we are committed to conduct one if we form the government,” he added. 

Demanding a caste census, Mr Gandhi every time claimed that 90 per cent of India’s population is not a part of the system.

 “Ninety per cent of people are sitting outside the system, they have skills and knowledge but they don’t have access (to the top). This is why we have raised the demand for caste-based Institutional census.”

Now the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 30 April, 2025, has decided to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census.

However, congress sources claim that the BJP led central government was very much reluctant to allow caste census, but former congress president and presently leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi’s repeated demand almost at all platforms for the last two years bowed down the government to announce the caste census.

Will the caste census only bring the lower stratum at par with the higher ups? No, without educating them, it will remain like a building with a hollow foundation. 

 Dr. Ambedkar had called upon the oppressed community to go ahead for the education of the next generation, which their generation had been denied by the dominant castes on the basis of spurious religious, social, and cultural reasons. Ambedkar exhorts them to educate, organize and agitate to bring the strata of the depressed classes together.”

Also, this stratum will have to rise on its own, without looking for government support, to face the conspiracy of the upper strata and come out of their trap. Will they dare? 

Jag Mohan Thaken is a Senior Journalist, Columnist & Political Analyst, views are personal