(a) whether caste has been one of the criteria in earlier census;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has any proposal to enumerate new caste based census in the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the expected cost of the project and its utility thereof; and
(e) the time by which the above project is likely to be started alongwith the expected time of
completion thereof?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI AJAY MAKEN)
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The question on caste was canvassed in all Censuses upto 1941. Comprehensive
tabulation was, however, done only upto 1931 Census. In 1941 Census, only a limited tabulation was
undertaken.
As per policy desion on the Government, data relating to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is being
collected from 1951 Census onwards. Information relating to castes other than Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes has been given up as a matter of policy from 1951 Census.
(c) & (d): Yes, Madam. The Union Cabinet in its meeting held on 9th September, 2010 has approved the
recommendations of the Group of Ministers (GoM) to canvass ‘caste’ of all persons as returned by them
as a separate exercise. Detailed modalities of conducting Caste-wise Census are in the process of
finalization and the estimated cost would be worked out thereafter.
(e): The enumeration of all castes would be undertaken after the completion of population enumeration
phase of the 2011 Census, in a phased manner, commencing from June 2011 to September 2011.