Passage:

In February 2025, the Government of India made a landmark announcement to include caste as a category in the upcoming national census. This move marks a significant departure from post-independence census exercises, as the last caste-based enumeration was carried out in 1931, under British rule. Since then, Indian censuses have documented only the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), while ignoring the broader caste composition of society.

The decision has sparked widespread debate across political, social, and academic circles. Proponents argue that caste data is essential for informed policymaking and the equitable distribution of resources. Without a clear understanding of the current socio-economic status of different caste groups, policies such as affirmative action and reservation quotas risk being outdated, inefficient, or even discriminatory. Caste enumeration, they argue, could help create a data-driven foundation for addressing inequality and fostering social justice.

Critics, however, warn that the move could deepen caste-based identities, encourage vote-bank politics, and foster social fragmentation. They argue that while caste remains a lived reality for many, institutionalizing it further through official data could hinder India’s long-term goal of achieving a casteless society. Moreover, there are concerns about the methodology of data collection, fears of misreporting, and the potential misuse of such data for political gain.

The government has assured the public that the data will be collected in a transparent and scientific manner, with adequate safeguards to protect individuals’ privacy. It has also stated that the aim is not to promote casteism, but to use objective data to better understand inequalities in education, employment, and access to public services.

The inclusion of caste data in the census is expected to have far-reaching implications. It could alter the basis of political representation, revise reservation policies, and even challenge the existing socio-political hierarchy. For a country grappling with both entrenched inequalities and the promise of modernization, the reintroduction of caste enumeration poses a complex challenge: balancing the need for accurate social data with the aspiration of national unity.

Q1. What major change will be made in the upcoming Indian It will only focus on urban populations
census?

Q2. When was the last caste-based census conducted in India?

Q3. What is the government’s stated reason for including caste data?

Q4. Which groups have traditionally been included in census caste data post-independence?

Q5. Critics fear that caste enumeration could:

Q6. What is one expected benefit of caste-based data, according to supporters?

Q7. Which of the following best describes the tone of the author?

Q8. What concern is raised about the methodology of caste data collection?

Q9. The phrase “vote-bank politics” implies:

Q10. What assurance has the government provided regarding the new census?

Q11. What is one concern raised about political misuse of the data?

Q12. What is meant by “institutionalizing caste”?

Q13. What does “affirmative action” refer to in this context?

Q14. What is the main risk in not having updated caste data?

Q15. What paradox does the passage highlight?

Q16. What does “recalibration of political representation” imply?

Q17. The word “fragmentation” in the phrase “social fragmentation” refers to:

Q18. What is the primary intention behind collecting caste data, according to the government?

Q19. The passage primarily discusses:

Q20. Which title best suits the passage?