Caste Census And Substantive Equality In India: Constitutional And Policy Perspectives
- IJLLR Journal
- Dec 31, 2025
- 1 min read
Aakanksha Rajesh, LL.B., IMS Law College, Noida
ABSTRACT
The socio-political design of India has been centred around caste for a long time now, yet there remains a state of comprehensive caste data vacuum, which has inevitably deferred the formulation of policies for social justice. This article delineates the historical, constitutional and judicial dimensions of caste enumeration, while highlighting Babasaheb’s tenacious appeal for a detailed caste census as an instrument for achieving the constitutional promise of substantive equality. It traces the trajectory of caste data collection from the colonial period to post-independence India, and probes into the contemporary development such as the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census and recent state-level surveys carried out in Bihar, Karnataka and Telangana. Caste enumeration is critically studied within the framework of constitutional provisions of affirmative action. The article further analyses how judicial interpretations have undergone a shift from reliance on formal notions of equality to a substantive understanding that recognises structural disadvantage. Drawing on empirical data and case law, the article contends that a periodic caste enumeration is indispensable to ensure effective resource allocation, address intra and inter-group disparities and advance the constitutional promise of substantive equality. The forthcoming 2027 caste census presents a golden opportunity to pursue Babasaheb Ambedkar’s vision of data-driven social reform.
Keywords: Caste Census, Substantive Equality, Affirmative Action, Reservation policy, Social Justice, Constitutional Law
