The case for and against counting castes in India

The upcoming national census in India in 2027 will include a count of every caste for the first time in nearly a century, aiming to provide insights into government benefit distribution and affirmative action policies. Advocates believe that this data will help target welfare spending and recalibrate quotas for a fairer society. Scholar-activist Anand Teltumbde, in contrast, warns that counting castes may further entrench discrimination and hierarchy, suggesting a need to dismantle the caste system instead of managing it through statistics. The debate around the caste census highlights differing views on its implications for social justice and inequality in India, with experts advocating for the need to update data for effective policymaking.