India is a diverse and complex society, with a population of over 1.4 billion people belonging to various caste groups. Caste is an ancient social hierarchy based on occupation and economic status, with roots in historical Hindu Scriptures. Caste also has a significant impact on the socio-economic and political opportunities and outcomes of people in India. The last caste census in India was conducted in 1931, during British colonial rule. The only exception was the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) of 2011, which was meant to collect data on the economic status and caste identity of every household in India.

Source: Indian Express December 19, 2023 06:57 UTC