New Delhi : Bihar has become the first state in India to release data from a caste-based survey. The report, released on Gandhi Jayanti, October 2, 2023, indicates that 36% of the population are from Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), 27.1% are from Backward Classes (OBCs), 19.7% are from Scheduled Castes (SCs), and 1.7% are from Scheduled Tribes (STs). The general population is 15.5%. The state’s total population is over 13.1 crore.
The survey also said that the Yadav community – the group to which Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav belongs – is the largest sub-group, accounting for 14.27% of all OBC categories.
The release of this data is likely to have significant political ramifications, especially in the lead-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Backward classes account for nearly two-thirds of the population (63.1%) in Bihar, and there are likely to be calls to increase quotas for them, which is currently capped at 27%.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar welcomed the release of the data, saying that it would be “beneficial for all” and “will enable the development of various sections of society, including the deprived.” He also said that the survey would identify areas that need development and that he was sure other states would also follow suit.
The BJP’s reaction, however, has been predictably critical, with Union Minister Giriraj Singh slamming the report as “eyewash.”
The release of this data comes as the Supreme Court continues to hear petitions challenging a Patna High Court’s judgment that paved the way for the survey. However, the court has refused to grant an interim stay on the release of the data.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
