Published on May 9, 2025.

With the government announcing plans to include caste in the upcoming census—the first such comprehensive exercise since 1931—India is once again confronting the deep questions of its social hierarchy. In this Frontline Conversations episode, senior journalist Saba Naqvi speaks to sociologist Sumeet Mhaskar to explore the significance, challenges, and far-reaching implications of this move.

Context:

As debates over social justice, political representation, and economic inequality intensify, the proposed caste census is emerging as a pivotal issue. Mhaskar argues that caste enumeration is not just a tool of political strategy or symbolic justice, but an essentiall mechanism for mapping India's layered social realities. The conversation also situates the census within the broader context of affirmative action, administrative resistance, and labour market inequalities.

Highlights:

• Why caste enumeration is critical to policymaking in contemporary India

• Contrasting caste politics in Tamil Nadu and Bihar

• The historic resistance of the Indian bureaucracy to reservation policies

• The role of caste data in shaping inclusive welfare and employment policies

• Challenges of declining public sector jobs and quality employment

• Why understanding caste is essential, like gender or poverty, for tackling structural injustice

Perfect for:

• Students of sociology, public policy, and political science

• Journalists and commentators on Indian society and governance

• Advocates of data-driven policy and social equity

Credits:

Interview by Saba Naqvi

Camera by Vitasta Kaul and Vedaant Lakhera

Editing by Razal Pareed

Produced by Kavya Pradeep M, Vitasta Kaul, and Vedaant Lakhera

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