Introduction

The article published in the editorial section of The Hindu Newspaper talks about the upcoming census in which the government is also considering including caste data.

Background Information

Caste data refers to the information collected about the various castes in a society, especially in India, where the caste system has long been a significant part of social structure. When we talk about caste data in the context of the Census, it means gathering detailed information on which caste each person belongs to across the country

When the Census collects caste data, it asks people to identify which caste they belong to. This information can then be used to study how different castes are spread across the country and understand their living conditions. This data is helpful for many reasons, like identifying social and economic inequalities, planning affirmative action programs (like quotas in education and government jobs), and creating policies to reduce caste-based discrimination and disparities.

However, collecting caste data can be tricky and sensitive because it deals with deep-rooted social issues. It can also spark political debates, as different groups may have different opinions on whether this information should be collected and how it should be used.

Article Explanation

The Union government is reportedly thinking about including caste data in the upcoming Census, which has already been delayed for a long time. This move seems to be a response to the strong demand for a caste census from various political parties. However, there’s concern that rushing into this decision could lead to problems, especially considering the issues faced in the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census. That census produced data that was inaccurate and difficult to use, so it’s important for the government to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

Before deciding to include caste data, the government needs to establish a clear and definitive timeline for conducting the Census, which has already been postponed several times. Some worry that the delay might be intentional, possibly to wait until after the delimitation process scheduled for 2026, which could negatively affect public policy and relationships with the states.

As of June 2024, India is among the 44 countries out of 233 worldwide that have not conducted a Census this decade. The government has blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for the delay, but 143 other countries managed to complete their Censuses after March 2020, when the pandemic began. The only countries that haven’t conducted a Census are those facing severe conflicts, economic crises, or instability, such as Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.

India has a long history of conducting the Census every ten years, without fail, from 1881 to 2011. This makes the continued delay in the current Census particularly concerning. Additionally, the deadline to freeze administrative boundaries, which is necessary before the Census can take place, expired on June 30, 2024, after being extended ten times since 2019.

Many important public programs, like the National Food Security Act and the National Social Assistance Programme, rely on up-to-date Census data. In addition, various statistical surveys that guide policymaking, such as the National Family Health Survey and the Periodic Labour Force Survey, depend on Census data for accurate sampling.

With the 2011 Census data becoming increasingly outdated, and significant changes like migration, urbanization, and suburbanization happening throughout the country, the absence of a new Census is becoming more problematic. Relying on smaller sample surveys to fill this gap is leading to debates over their accuracy and methodology, with some outcomes influenced by political biases.

In summary, the government needs to take its responsibilities seriously and prioritize conducting the Census as soon as possible to ensure accurate data is available for making informed policy decisions.

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The Hindu Epaper Editorial Explanation given by Hello Student is only a supplementary reading to the original article to make things easier for the students.

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The Editorial Page of The Hindu is an essential reading for all the students aspiring for UPSC, SSC, PCS, Judiciary etc or any other competitive government exams.

This may also be useful for exams like CUET UG and CUET PG, GATE, GMAT, GRE AND CAT

To read this article in Hindi –https://bhaarat.hellostudent.co.in/

Read More- https://hellostudent.co.in/justice-k-hema-report-the-hindu-editorial/

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