Census 2021 Won't Include Caste Data Except For Dalits, Scheduled Tribes

Maharashtra and Odisha had sought the collection of caste details in Census 2021, the government has said.

Caste-wise data on population, other than those for Dalits and Scheduled Tribes, won't be included in the upcoming national Census, the Ministry of Home Affairs said today. The decision has been taken as a matter of policy, the government informed the Lok Sabha. The ministry also said that some state governments had earlier requested the collection of caste data. "The state governments of Maharashtra and Odisha have requested to collect caste details in the forthcoming census. The government of India has decided as a matter of policy not to enumerate caste-wise population other than SCs and STs in Census," Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai stated in a written reply. The Constitution provides for reservation of seats for members of Scheduled Castes and Tribes in the Lok Sabha and in the various assemblies in proportion, as nearly as may be, to their population, the Minister said. In the Census, those specifically notified as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are enumerated, he said.