Census of India 2011 and the issues of national security: a dangerous gambit

The 2011 census will be the 15(th) edition of Indian National Census and 7(th) after independence. After conducting six decennial censuses in the independent India, suddenly Government of India wakes up to add two new hitherto unknown columns in the census of 2011. Decennial census is considered as a progressive toll for generating data to be used by the state and its agencies for developmental purpose. The inclusion of caste in the census and preparation of National Population Registrar (NPR) along with it is fraught with social, political, economic and religious consequences. Caste census was first started in 1972 and dropped in 1931 by the colonial rulers of India. The founding fathers of India wanted an end to the very existence of caste and hence discouraged caste from every sphere of public policy. What is dominated but hidden beneath the demands of caste census is the consideration of caste quotas. The inclusion of NPR along with the census for the purpose of preparing the Unique Identification Number is another sensitive issue which needs threadbare interpretation.