DH Deciphers | Caste census: Criteria for identifying backwardness of various castes and communities

Bengaluru: The data from the social and educational survey – also called caste census – has kicked up a political storm in the state. The report, conducted in 2015 and submitted to the government in 2024, surveyed 5.98 crore people (94.17%) of the overall 6.35 crore estimated population in 2015 and segregated the OBC category into six sub-sections (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B).

While critics have accused it of being “unscientific” and of “undercounting” certain communities, its proponents have defended the exercise by referring to the 55-point questionnaire and its “elaborateness.”

In this DH Deciphers, Sujay B M looks into the methodology of the survey and the criteria devised by the commission to determine backwardness of communities.

What were the contents of the questionnaire?

Prepared for a total 200 points, the questionnaire seeks to determine backwardness on the basis of questions on social, educational and livliehood (economic) indicators in the 3:2:1 ratio, respectively.

In the Constitution, Article 15(4) enables the state to take steps to address social and educational backwardness, while Article 16(4) enables the state to address economic and employment backwardness.

As many as 100 points were awarded to social indicators, while 68 points were given to educational and 32 to livelihood (economic) indicators.

How is backwardness identified and how are communities allotted under different categories?

As the survey determines backwardness, more backward communities have scored higher points.

With the communities scoring between 12-147 in terms of backwardness indicators, 90 has been taken as the mid-point. Communities scoring 90 or more out of 200 are considered in the ‘most backward’ Category 1 (90-124 is category 1B while 125+ comes under 1A.)

Communities with 50-89 points come under the ‘more backward’ category 2. Communities with 20-49 points are categorised as ‘backward’ (3A and 3B). Communities scoring under 20 are not backward and come under the general category.

Are all sub-castes categorised inside the primary caste?

Yes. All sub-castes will be categorised under the primary caste and will come under the same category (for ex, Lingayats come under category 3B and all its 95 sub-castes also come under 3B itself).

Is backwardness calculated for each sub-caste? If yes, is it then added to the backwardness of the primary caste?

Yes. The points obtained by all sub-castes is added and divided by the overall population of the primary caste to obtain the points of the overall caste. Thus, the backwardness points of a caste represents that of all sub-castes.

Overall population surveyed - 5.98 crore

SC population - 1.09 crore

ST population - 42.81 lakh

OBC - 4.16 crore

General category - 29.74 lakh