Checkbox caste: On the counting of caste, Census 2027

The rehearsal for the second phase of India's Census 2027, currently underway in 16 States and Union Territories since July 6, includes a significant innovation: an "open column" where participants can self-identify their caste, which will be recorded by enumerators. This approach, unlike the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC), benefits from statutory support.

Pre-testing concludes on July 20, with the government promising to finalize the methodology for caste counting afterward. The objective is to avoid the pitfalls observed in previous attempts, notably the SECC, which generated over 46 lakh "caste names," far exceeding the 4,147 recorded in the 1931 Census. Respondents tend to enter surnames, sub-castes, and clan names indiscriminately, leading to an unmanageable and incoherent dataset.

The government believes that digital tools pre-loaded with a curated list of castes and sub-castes will improve accuracy. While errors are inevitable, the 2022-23 Bihar caste survey suggests this method can yield more usable data. Unlike other demographic identities such as linguistic, religious, and gender, caste is an abstract, irrational identity based on primordial birthright and hierarchical arrangements.

The Constitution of India, committed to social justice, outlawed untouchability, discrimination based on caste, and aimed for a republic where birth wouldn't dictate a citizen's status. Despite this, counting caste remains crucial because caste-based social inequities persist. The data gathered could inform welfare measures and affirmative action, helping to delineate the "cream layer" and sub-categorize castes and classes already receiving reservations.

However, the open-ended method is insufficient; a curated list is necessary to capture accurate, usable data. The Census 2027, slated to commence in Ladakh, aims to be India's first comprehensive caste enumeration, emphasizing the need for better data to combat casteism.