Government dropped use of OBC lists for Census as those featured ‘classes, not castes’, say officials
The Union government has decided not to use the existing Central and State lists of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) for collecting caste details in the 2027 Census. Officials said the decision was taken because the OBC lists do not always identify specific castes and, in some cases, include broader social or occupational groups.
The government had earlier considered using these lists to make the caste enumeration process easier. However, officials found that several entries in the lists were not clearly linked to a particular caste. Some entries describe people according to their occupation, social position or other characteristics.
Difference Between Caste and Social Class
Officials said this created a major problem because caste and social class are not always the same thing.
While most communities included in the OBC lists are recognised as castes, some entries describe groups based on their work or social status. For example, certain groups may be identified through occupations rather than a specific caste identity.
Officials also examined State-level OBC lists and found similar difficulties. Different States may use different names and classifications for communities, making it difficult to create a single system for counting the country’s caste population.
Because of these concerns, the government decided that simply using the existing OBC lists would not provide an accurate picture of India’s caste composition.
SC and ST Lists Will Continue
The government plans to continue using the existing Presidential lists for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) during the Census.
At the same time, an open column will be provided for people to identify their caste if it does not fall under the existing SC or ST categories.
The decision has attracted criticism from several OBC organisations and Opposition leaders. They argue that an open category may not provide enough detail to accurately determine the size of different OBC communities.
Rahul Gandhi and Opposition Raise Concerns
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders have criticised the government’s approach. They have argued that caste data needs to be collected in a clear and detailed manner so that the population of different communities can be properly understood.
Opposition parties have been demanding a comprehensive caste census for several years. They say existing information about the OBC population is outdated and does not provide an accurate picture of the country’s current social structure.
They also fear that an open column could create confusion because people may use different names or descriptions for the same community.
Concerns Over Earlier Caste Data
Critics of the government’s approach have also pointed to problems seen in earlier attempts to collect caste-related information.
They fear that if people are allowed to enter caste names freely, the final data could contain different spellings, local names and overlapping identities. This could make it difficult to combine the information and produce reliable figures.
Supporters of a detailed caste enumeration say that accurate data is important for understanding social and economic inequalities and for planning government welfare and reservation policies.
Government Says Options Were Carefully Considered
Government officials have said that the decision was not taken suddenly. They said different methods were discussed and examined at senior levels before the final approach was chosen.
Officials acknowledged that a large majority of OBC entries represent recognised castes. However, the presence of entries based on social class, occupation or other descriptions creates difficulties when the lists are used for a nationwide caste count.
The government therefore decided that the existing OBC lists could not simply be adopted as the basis for the 2027 Census.
Earlier Commission Report
The issue of caste and social class has also been examined by the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).
A 2015 report by the commission noted that caste and social class often overlap in Indian society. However, the report also made clear that the two concepts should not automatically be treated as identical.
This distinction has become important in the government’s discussion over how caste information should be collected.
Caste Census Debate Continues
The decision to include caste-related information in the 2027 Census comes after years of political debate.
Opposition parties and several OBC organisations have argued that a detailed caste census is necessary because India’s existing data on OBC communities is old. They say updated information could help governments understand the population and socio-economic conditions of different communities.
The government, meanwhile, is facing the challenge of creating a system that can collect accurate information without creating confusion between caste, occupation and social class.
As preparations for the 2027 Census continue, the method used to record caste information is likely to remain an important political and social issue in India.