In preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government has released a comprehensive caste-based survey report. According to the findings, the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) make up 36.01% of the surveyed population, while the Backward Classes constitute 27.12%. In contrast, the General Category comprises 15.52% of the surveyed population. The Scheduled Caste population is reported to be 19.65%, while Scheduled Tribes account for 1.68% of those covered by the survey.
Within the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, the survey reveals that Yadavs constitute 14.26% of the surveyed population, whereas Kushwaha and Kurmi communities represent 4.27% and 2.87%, respectively.
This extensive survey was conducted in two phases. Initially, enumerators marked households and recorded family member names and household heads. Subsequently, the second phase involved filling out a proforma encompassing 17 socio-economic indicators, including caste, across various districts.
According to data released by Development Commissioner Vivek Singh in Patna, the state’s total population stands at slightly over 13.07 crore.
Notably, this survey was initiated last year after the Central government, led by Narendra Modi, clarified that it would not conduct a headcount of castes beyond the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) as part of the census.
Approximately 2.64 lakh enumerators were deployed across the state to document details of 29 million registered households, focusing on 17 socioeconomic criteria, such as employment, education, marital status, land ownership, property possession, and caste. Enumerators were required to select from 214 pre-registered castes, each assigned individual codes.
Several petitions in the Supreme Court contested the High Court’s August 1 judgment that permitted the government to undertake this caste survey. On August 18, the Supreme Court indicated that it would not restrain the Bihar government from publishing the aggregated data or findings of the caste survey unless there was a clear case of constitutional rights violation or lack of competence on the state government’s part.
This caste-based survey aims to provide comprehensive insights into Bihar’s demographic composition, with a focus on various caste groups, which is vital information for political and social planning in the state.
