Indian government to include caste questions in census for first time since independence
India's caste system has been a point of tension in recent years for some sections of society. (AP Photo: Aijaz Rahi)
Being born in India means inheriting a place in an ancient social system which will dominate much of your life, from where you can live to who you can marry.
Now, the government wants to know more about how the caste system is playing out in modern-day India.
The government is set to ask people questions about their caste in the next census — the first such move in nearly 100 years.
Experts say the results are likely to have significant consequences for Indian politics and the contentious policies linked to the system.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government confirmed the plan, with spokesperson Ashwini Vaishnav saying it, "demonstrates that a government is committed to the values and interests of a society and country".
India's interior minister, Amit Shah, described the decision as "historic".
"This decision will empower all economically and socially backward sections," he said in a statement.
Caste data was last collected as part of the census in 1931 during British colonial rule that ended with Indian independence 16 years later.
A caste survey was conducted in 2011, which was separate to the census held in the same year, but its results were never made public because they were purportedly inaccurate.
Successive governments have since resisted updating the sensitive demographic data, citing administrative complexity and fears of social unrest.
What is India's caste system?
The system is widely believed to be more than 3,000 years old.
People are born into their caste.
The system divides India's Hindu population into four categories based on their karma (work) and their dharma (duty).
It dominates the lives of the people within it, determining what work they can do, who they can marry and even where they can eat and drink.
The rules governing the structure are set out in Manusmriti, the book considered by some to be the most authoritative text on Hindu law.
It's believed the four groups originated from the Hindu God of Creation, Brahma:
- Brahman — teachers and priests
- Kshatriyas — warriors and rulers
- Vaishyas — businesspeople and landowners
- Shudras — servants and commoners
Outside of this system are the Dalits, formerly known as the untouchables, who are limited to jobs like bathroom cleaning and street-sweeping.
Dalit literally translates as "broken people" and this caste is shunned by Indian society.
Dalits have protested decisions made by some Indian courts that have impacted their rights in the past. (AP Photo: Ajit Solanki/file)
While it's a strict system, there are examples of people moving out of their castes — India's constitution was written by BR Ambedkar, a member of the Dalit community.
Some scholars have argued that it was in fact British colonisers who imposed the strict rules in an attempt to maintain control over a religiously and socially diverse population.
Is India's caste system legal?
India's constitution, which was written in 1950 after the country gained independence, banned caste discrimination.
It also confirmed quotas in government jobs as well as educational opportunities for particular castes.
But despite that, caste experts like Dhaneswar Bhoi say that the system continues to permeate Indian society.
"It's basically a system where some communities are not allowed to access … education, economic and social resources," Dr Bhoi told the ABC.
"They are also treated differently in the society, they are discriminated against based on caste … and it is hereditary. It is very problematic to the society."
Dr Bhoi, an honorary fellow at the University of Edinburgh, said that some people may fear "the true, naked story" of the country being revealed through the caste data, but it will better inform public policy.
It's expected the caste census will provide new insights into the demographics of India. (AP Photo: Mahesh Kumar A/file)
"It can fine-tune the public policy and give equal access and equal platform to the society, so that the marginal sections can level-up and equate with others," he said.
He said those in upper castes continued to have access to jobs, education and land, while those in lower castes struggled to get by.
When will India's caste census happen?
No date has been set for the next census but local media suggests it is set to take place in 2026.
It will be an enormous undertaking for the government as it tries to gather the data of the 1.4 billion people living in the country.
Dr Bhoi said it was unlikely that this census would be the beginning of the end of the caste system, which is also reinforced through religion.
"It has the power of more than 3,000 years and it is not just physical, it also lives in the psyche of the people," he said.
ABC/wires