The Indian government has recently signaled a major policy shift by agreeing to include caste data in the upcoming national Census. This move shines a light on Telangana, a state that has already completed one of India’s most comprehensive caste surveys.
In February 2025, Telangana concluded its Social, Educational, Employment, and Economic Caste Survey (SEEEPC). Often called the state’s own caste census, it collected detailed data from nearly 98% of the population, covering more than 3.5 crore people across 245 sub-castes.
The survey gathered information in 74 different categories. These included education levels, job status, income, social discrimination, and how communities move up socially and economically.
Over 1 lakh surveyors went door-to-door across 33 districts and 94,000 local areas. They completed the entire process in just two months. Experts now consider SEEEPC one of the most data-rich caste surveys since the Mandal Commission in the 1980s.
Why Is a Caste Census Important?
A caste census is more than just counting people. It helps reveal deep inequalities in Indian society. For example:
– Every CEO and Managing Director of a NIFTY 50 company belongs to an upper caste.
– Nearly all 12,000 manual scavengers in India are Dalits.
– 95% of India’s billion-dollar startup founders come from upper caste backgrounds.
– Meanwhile, the same percentage of gig workers—such as food delivery agents and drivers—belong to Dalit, backward, or minority communities.
These trends suggest that social divisions are still strong. A caste census can provide the data needed to understand and address them.
What Telangana Did Differently
Telangana’s SEEEPC didn’t just collect population numbers. It focused on three areas:
1. Population Share – How many people belong to each caste group.
2. Participation Share – Their access to education, jobs, and income levels.
3. Representation Share – Their presence in politics, business, and media.
This approach gives a clearer picture of how caste affects real-life opportunities—not just how many people belong to a group.
The survey also explored sensitive topics like inter-caste marriage, social exclusion, and access to public spaces. Telangana involved sociologists, local leaders, and civil society groups to ensure the survey reflected ground realities.
Looking Past Reservations
Some critics say caste surveys only serve reservation politics. But experts argue otherwise. A caste census is a scientific tool. It helps policymakers understand inequality based on real numbers, not guesses.
Even the Supreme Court has said that caste policies must be backed by solid data. Without it, governments risk basing decisions on outdated assumptions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has claimed poverty, not caste, is the real problem. But findings from Telangana suggest that caste often plays a bigger role in determining a person’s chances in life—even more than economic status.
A Shift in National Thinking
The Modi government’s decision to support a national caste census marks a major change in direction. It also signals growing agreement among political leaders that data is key to fair governance.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly pushed for caste-based data. He calls it the “X-ray of Indian society.”
As India prepares for its national caste census, Telangana’s experience offers valuable lessons. The key is to include local voices, design smart surveys, and focus on what the data tells us—not just how many people belong to which group.
In a country where caste still shapes so many lives, facing the truth through data may be the first step toward real change.
