Caste System India

Cong asks if PM views caste census as divisive, seeks quota ceiling lift

The Congress on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi with questions on Bihar, asking whether he thinks that a caste census is divisive and will he take decisive steps to remove the "arbitrary" 50 per cent ceiling on reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and OBCs. Ahead of the prime minister's engagements in Bihar, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said he has four questions for the PM as he visits Darbhanga. Why was AIIMS Darbhanga so delayed, Ramesh asked. "The AIIMS in Darbhanga was announced by then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Union Budget for 2015-2016. Locals have been waiting for the hospital since then, but it took nine years for work to even begin," Ramesh said in his post on X. It appears that the delay was partly due to the Union Government's insistence on seeking political credit for it, and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's machinations to ensure he benefitted from it, Ramesh alleged. "Will the non-biologic

Telangana govt to begin caste survey today, to cover 11.7 mn households

This is the first time a caste-based survey is being conducted by the government in Telangana since 1931

Maha govt to take action against non-Hindu students who availed ST quota

In light of this, Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha had ordered a thorough investigation during the Winter Session in 2023

Telangana govt begins comprehensive caste survey, CM Reddy briefs Guv

The Telangana government's comprehensive socio-economic, employment, political and caste survey, an election promise of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, began on Wednesday. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy described the survey as a 'yajna' to achieve social justice for the oppressed classes and equality of opportunities. The massive exercise that began on Telangana soil is an "adventure" that will change the country's social outlook under Rahul Gandhi's leadership, he said on 'X'. Reddy also met Governor Jishnu Dev Varma and briefed him about the survey. The CM urged the Governor to take the survey to the notice of the Centre so that it can be taken into consideration during the national census to be held in 2025. Reddy, who was accompanied by Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and other leaders, explained the details regarding the survey and its process to the Governor, an official release said. The CM and leaders told the Governor that Telangana will stand as a role model for

Telangana to start caste survey from Nov 4-5, complete by Nov 30: Minister

The Telangana government is expected to start a caste survey in the state from November 4-5 and it is likely to be completed by November 30, minister Ponnam Prabhakar said on Saturday. Prabhakar was addressing the media after a cabinet meeting during which a proforma for the caste survey was approved. He said the exercise is being taken up in line with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's commitment to conduct a caste survey in the state as well as across the nation. Prabhakar said 80,000 government employees will be roped in for conducting the survey and they will be appropriately trained for it. According to a resolution passed by the Telangana Assembly, the state cabinet has approved the proforma for the caste survey which is expected to be completed by November 30. The actual enumeration, covering every household, is likely to start from November 4 or 5, he said. All the data collected will be kept in public domain, he said. Revenue Minister P Srinivas Reddy said the cabinet also .

Chirag favours caste census, says data will improve policy implementation

Union minister Chirag Paswan has strongly batted for a nationwide caste-based census, saying data from the exercise will help in knowing the exact population of sections of society that require further upliftment. Speaking at the 'India Today Conclave' in Mumbai on Wednesday, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president also said there is no doubt the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will again form government in Bihar, where the assembly polls are due in late 2025. The Bihar assembly polls will be contested under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Paswan maintained, referring to the JD(U) leader and his one-time political rival. The Dalit leader from Bihar also asserted his party is committed to a certain section of society it represents. "We (LJP-Ram Vilas) have our own priorities, our concerns for the section of the society which we represent. If the section is wronged, then it is the responsibility of our party to become the voice of that section,"

Congress anti-Dalit, 'insulted' Kumari Selja: Amit Shah at rally in Haryana

Union Minister Amit Shah on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, calling it an "anti-Dalit" party and said it "insulted" Dalit leaders like Kumari Selja and Ashok Tanwar. Shah also lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on reservation and asserted that if there is anybody who can protect the quota, it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah was addressing a poll rally at Tohana for the October 5 Haryana Assembly elections. "The Congress party is an anti-Dalit party," alleged Shah in his address. "The Congress always insulted Dalit leaders, be it Ashok Tanwar or sister Kumari Selja. The Congress insulted everyone," he further alleged.

Census likely to be held soon; no decision yet on caste column: Report

The government has started preparations for conducting the decadal census, but a decision is yet to be taken on including a column on caste as part of the exercise, sources said on Sunday. Speaking on condition of anonymity, one source said that the decadal census will be conducted soon. India has conducted the census every 10 years since 1881. The first phase of this decade's census was expected to begin on April 1, 2020 but had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The implementation of the Women's Reservation Act, enacted by Parliament last year, too is linked to the conduct of the decadal census. The law reserving one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies shall come into effect after an exercise of delimitation is undertaken based on the relevant figures of the first census recorded after the Act has come into force. "This is yet to be decided," the source said when asked about inclusion of a column on caste in the decadal census. The politic

'Domain of governance': SC refuses to entertain plea for caste census

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea seeking direction to the Centre for conducting a socio-economic caste census for the welfare of backward and other marginalised sections, saying the issue falls in the domain of governance. A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti allowed the petitioner P Prasad Naidu to withdraw his plea in which he had sought a direction for expediting the enumeration of data for census. "What can be done about this? The issue is in the domain of governance. It is a policy matter," the bench told senior advocate Ravishankar Jandyala and advocate Sravan Kumar Karanam, appearing for the petitioner. Jandyala submitted that several countries have done it but India is yet to do. "The Indra Sawhney judgement of 1992 (Mandal Commission verdict) has said that this census has to be done periodically," he contended. The bench told him it was dismissing the petition as the court could not interfere in the issue. Sensing the mood of the court

Other side of the caste debate: When Dalits turn against their own

Recent SC order allowed states to implement sub-classification of reservations

Lateral entry into bureaucracy is direct assault on social justice: Stalin

Lateral entry into bureaucracy is a direct assault on social justice and it deprived opportunities deserved for meritorious and minority officers from the reserved categories, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Tuesday. He called upon the Central government to halt this practice, and instead prioritise filling backlog vacancies for OBCs, SC/STs, and ensure fair and equitable promotions. "We demand the complete abolition of the creamy layer, a concept we have always opposed," the chief minister said in a post on 'X'. In order to uphold social justice, safeguard reservation and ensure its rightful implementation, the following steps must be taken immediately, he said. "#LateralEntry is a direct assault on #SocialJustice, depriving the meritorious SC, ST, OBC and minority officers of their deserved opportunities at the top," Stalin said in the post. "The Union Govt must halt this practice, prioritise filling backlog vacancies for OBCs & SC/STs, and ensure fair and ...

Govt may expand census to include more questions around caste: Reports

Officials are now debating whether to add a third caste category, called "other backward class" to the questionnaire or whether to conduct a separate caste survey

No provision for creamy layers in SC/ST reservation, says Vaishnaw

Union Minister's remarks came days after the Supreme Court ruled that states have the power to sub-classify Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs)

'SC's Dalit quota sub-categorisation verdict may help BJP boost outreach'

The BJP may not have taken a categorical stand at the national level on the Supreme Court's landmark decision allowing states to create sub-categorisation within the SCs and STs, but several of its leaders are of the view that the verdict can help the party boost its outreach to the more disadvantaged sections of Dalits. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has assiduously cultivated the numerically-weaker Scheduled Castes (SCs) in many states, such as Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, over the years, and the apex court's verdict may allow the party to promise these communities with their most coveted wish -- their fair share in government jobs and schemes, they said. The erosion of Dalit votes that hit the BJP in the recent Lok Sabha polls has sent its brain trust to the drawing board, as the party looks to reinvigorate its outreach to the community after the opposition's allegation that the Narendra Modi government wanted to change the Constitution found some traction in the ...

Anurag Thakur's caste remark 'on Rahul Gandhi' expunged; Oppn seeks apology

BJP MP from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, Anurag Thakur stoked a political row on Tuesday over his controversial Lok Sabha speech, apparently targeted at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi

Ramdas Athawale advocates for caste census in country, slams Congress

Union minister Ramdas Athawale has said his Republican Party of India (A) supports conducting a caste census in the country and believes some way should be found for it. Speaking to reporters in Madhya Pradesh's Indore city on Sunday, Athawale also said there should be no malpractice in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and the Education Ministry was taking all possible steps to stop malpractices in the exam in future. He said since Article 17 of the Constitution has a provision to abolish casteism, there has been a hindrance before governments on how to get a caste-based census conducted. "My party demands that some way should be found because once the caste-based census is done, we will know the percentage of every caste in the population," the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment said. Athawale further said if future decisions include extending reservation benefits to every caste based on their population share, his party would not oppose it, ...

Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar urge peace after Beed video suggests caste tensions

A video purportedly containing remarks against a particular community in the backdrop of tension between two caste groups in a village in Beed district has gone viral, prompting leaders of various political parties to appeal for peace. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) and Ajit Pawar (NCP) have appealed for maintaining peace and avoiding such commentary. Beed Superintendent of Police, Nand Kumar Thakur, on Monday, rushed to Mundewadi village in Kej tehsil and held a meeting with villagers. The video clip went viral on Sunday against the backdrop of tensions between members of the Maratha and Vanjari communities. Some villagers in the video clip, which went viral on Sunday, can be heard saying that no 'Maharaj' (religious preacher) from the Maratha community should be invited to the village. Villagers also asked others not to consume liquor from a shop, while a man threatened that those violating this diktat would be penalised. "A meeting was conducted in

India's consumption story is yet to address the caste discrimination issue

Ages-old bias could also be affecting what traditionally deprived communities earn

Highlights: 4th round of talks between ministers, farmer leaders concludes

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Rahul Gandhi's claims about Bihar caste survey nonsensical: CM Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday said Rahul Gandhi's claim that the caste survey in the state was held under the Congress' pressure was nonsensical'. Talking to reporters three days after he dumped the 'Mahagathbandhan' and returned to the BJP-led NDA, Kumar, also the JD(U) president, claimed that he did not like the nomenclature of the opposition bloc INDIA. Gandhi on Tuesday claimed that Kumar was feeling trapped after getting a caste survey conducted under pressure from the Mahagathbandhan partners and the BJP provided him with a way out".