63% of the people belong to the extremely backward and backward classes, Bihar releases caste-based census

 Ahead of the 2024 Lok-Sabha elections, Nitish Kumar’s government in Bihar released a caste-based survey report on Monday. As per the report, the extremely backward classes constitute 36.01% of the population, the backward classes stand at 27.12%, the general category at 15.52%, the scheduled castes comprise 19.65%, and the scheduled tribes 1.68% of the population covered under the survey. In terms of the OBC, Yadavs constitute 14.26% of the surveyed population, while Kushwaha and Kurmi form 4.27% and 2.87%, respectively, of the covered population. This makes Bihar the first state to release the data of a caste-based survey.

Taking to X, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar tweeted marking Gandhi Jayanti as an ‘auspicious occasion’ to release the data of a caste-based census. “Today, on the auspicious occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, the data of caste-based census conducted in Bihar has been published. Many congratulations to the entire team engaged in the work of caste-based enumeration!” reads the tweet. The Chief Minister further stated that soon a meeting of all 9 parties of the Bihar Assembly would be called and the leaders would be apprised of the details of the caste-based census conducted in the state.

The first phase of the survey entailed marking houses and noting the names of family members and their heads. In the second phase, the team completed a proforma that included 17-point socio-economic indicators, such as caste, in their respective districts. As per data released by Development Commissioner Vivek Singh, Bihar’s total population stands at a little over 13.07 crore. This survey was ordered in June last year, at a time when the Narendra Modi government at the Centre stated that it would not conduct a headcount of castes other than SCs and STs as part of the census.

In August, after the survey was completed, Nitish Kumar emphasized that the survey would benefit everyone and would help develop various sections of society, including the underprivileged. The Chief Minister also stated that the survey had been ordered with the support of all state parties. The release of this data comes at a time when the Supreme Court continues to hear petitions challenging the Patna High Court's judgment that allowed this caste-based headcount, however, the SC refused to grant an interim stay unless a prima facie case is proved.