The caste census is stirring debate across Bihar, with opinions sharply divided along community lines.
Sita Sharan, 42, from the Bhumihar community, runs a fast food shop in Patna. “Caste census should happen. We should know how many people belong to each group. It won’t harm anyone,” he says. Likewise, 42-year-old Tinku Jha, a Brahmin from Vaishali, sees no threat in the exercise. In contrast, Prince, from the Rajput community, is firmly opposed to the census and also rejects caste-based reservations.
Among supporters is Bhola Prasad, a 60-year-old Yadav farmer from Sonpur in Saran. “Caste census must happen. Work and opportunities should be distributed according to population. Those opposing it are already ahead in everything, including jobs,” he argues. Yet, a section of upper-caste voters remains apprehensive.
Is the caste census shaping the Bihar Assembly elections? How do different communities view it, and which parties are likely to benefit or lose? To explore this, we spoke with residents in Saran, Vaishali, and Patna, and consulted experts on the potential electoral impact.
Background: Caste survey and census in Bihar
Bihar conducted a caste survey in 2023 under the Mahagathbandhan government, with CM Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav in power. The caste-based census report was released on October 2, 2023. This was the first state-level caste survey in the country since independence.
First, a look at Bihar’s population by caste according to the report…
Following Bihar’s survey, the central government announced on April 30, 2025, that a nationwide caste census would be conducted. The exercise will take place in two phases alongside the general population census in 2026–27. The decision came after sustained pressure from both political parties and the public, as the last caste-based census in India was carried out in 1931.
What communities regarded as upper caste think about the caste census
Rajputs: Economic focus over caste
29-year-old Prince Ranjan Singh, a Rajput from Saran working in a medical lab, opposes the caste census. “In my view, the census should focus on the poor. Give resources to those who need them. Who is stopping anyone? With 500–600 crore, you could build 100,000 houses for the poor,” he says.
Prince advocates for reservations based on economic criteria rather than caste, arguing that caste-based quotas have failed to address social backwardness. “Reservation should not be based on caste, but on poverty. Every caste has rich and poor. The current system is limping,” he adds.
Bhumihars: Strong support for census
42-year-old Sita Sharan, a Bhumihar from Saran who runs a fast food shop and works as a Flipkart delivery partner, considers the caste census essential. “Caste enumeration is completely necessary, but a half-hearted survey is useless,” he says.
Sita Sharan explains the practical benefits: “The caste census should happen, and it causes neither harm nor advantage. It will simply reflect the population of each community, giving them proportional strength. This will not create animosity in society. What use is reservation if people do not get access to education?”
Brahmins: Census not harmful
42-year-old Tinku Jha, a Brahmin from Vaishali who supports his household through labor work, also backs the census. “Caste enumeration does not harm anyone. Each community will receive its share based on population. Those opposing it have their own views. Some may lose, some may benefit,” he says.
For Tinku, bigger election issues are the poor state of government schools, unemployment, inflation, and migration. “If Bihar had better employment opportunities, people would not have to go to Chennai, Visakhapatnam, or Punjab for work,” he notes.
What did communities regarded as Dalits-Mahadalits say about caste census?
Reservation has become a joke, employment is key
Ritik, a Dalit student at Patna University, says the reservation system has lost its effectiveness. “Reservations have become a joke because government jobs are declining. When institutions shut down, there are no jobs. Without jobs, where will reservation be implemented? The caste census is being conducted, but what is its operative purpose?”
He questions the practical impact of the census: “The survey revealed that 33% of families earn less than ₹6,000 per month. What has been done after discovering this? They simply counted. Counting alone does not solve anything.”
Caste census essential for children’s future
Dilip Kumar Das, 45, from the Mahadalit Ravidas community in Khadka Tola, Saran, sees the census as crucial for planning his children’s future. A father of three, he wants them to become doctors and engineers. “The caste census is 100% necessary. It will help design schemes for every community, which will automatically support Bihar’s development,” he says.
Addressing those who oppose the census, Dilip adds, “Reservation should be allocated according to population. Some people misuse the system—leaders like Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi already have advantages; they should now step aside.”
He stresses that beyond education, health, and unemployment, the caste census remains a significant issue for Mahadalits.
Views from OBCs and EBCs
Upper-caste dominance and political opposition
Bhola Prasad Yadav alleges that upper-caste groups opposing the caste census control jobs across sectors. He believes unemployment, migration, and inflation are bigger election issues than the caste census. “Still, caste enumeration will remain an issue for people, but during elections it becomes more of a political debate than a public concern,” he says.
‘PM Modi’s caste, yet no benefit’
Gautam Kumar, a Teli student at Patna University (Telis fall under Bihar’s EBC category), supports the caste census and insists reservations should reflect population share. “Even though PM Modi belongs to our caste, the community has seen no benefits,” he says. On its electoral significance, he adds, “We should benefit according to population, but nothing has happened so far.”
Caste census as a tool for reservation reform
Suraj Kumar, an OBC student at Patna University, describes the census as a means to reform reservations while highlighting economic inequalities. “The caste survey was correct because reservation must match caste population percentages,” he says.
However, 20-year-old Shiv Kumar, also OBC, warns that political parties may exploit the census to increase casteism. “The census is needed to know backward-caste numbers and plan schemes, but politics will use it to divide,” he says. Shiv believes the caste census could become an election issue because political manoeuvring often occurs in the name of caste.
Mallah community: Census will drive improvements
Vijendra Mahto, 47, from the EBC Mallah community in Madhubani, emphasises that the census will identify unemployment and prompt government action. “Caste enumeration is necessary so leaders know community populations and address unemployment accordingly. Election-time debates aside, this can help increase reservations, benefiting all communities,” he says.
Kurmi-Koeri perspective: Proportional distribution
29-year-old Ranjan Kumar, a Kurmi and government contractor in PWD, supports the caste census to ensure proportional allocation of jobs and facilities. However, he does not see it as a major election issue, claiming the main priority is changing the 20-year-old government. He expresses dissatisfaction with Nitish Kumar and hopes for either Tejashwi Yadav or BJP’s CM candidate.
OBC challenges: Population vs jobs
Gunjan Kumar, 30, from the Kohri community, highlights underrepresentation of OBCs despite their large population. “Reservation rules favour lower castes, leaving fewer opportunities for OBCs. Qualified individuals are often sidelined while less educated lower-caste candidates get jobs,” he says. However, he stresses unemployment as the bigger concern, citing 70% youth unemployment, poor government schools, and mid-day meal corruption.
Muslim perspectives on caste census
‘Caste census is an electoral tool’
25-year-old Taslima Arshad, a Patna University student, views the caste census as a measure of social justice but says it is exploited for votes during elections. “Knowing the numbers of backward castes and planning their upliftment is necessary, but in elections, caste is used only to secure votes,” she says.
Taslima adds, “Hiding caste numbers won’t change anything. Everyone knows discrimination exists. During elections, caste becomes an issue only once, to win votes from that community.”
‘Caste census concerns all communities’
Mohammad Sultan, 35, an auto driver from Sonpur, Saran, says caste census affects all communities. He criticises the Modi government for politicising Hindu-Muslim issues and worries about his children’s future without reservation benefits.
“Caste census must be an issue, and reservations should match population,” he says. “This government’s politics will deny my children the benefits they need.”
Expert view: All parties vying for credit
Political analyst Priyadarshi Ranjan notes that all parties in Bihar support caste census and are distributing election tickets based on caste, so it does not become a point of opposition.
“Since every party has demanded this, no one is likely to oppose it,” he says. “Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav conducted the survey but cannot claim full credit now, as BJP has announced plans for a nationwide census. It has become a neutral force politically.”
Priyadarshi adds, “If RJD and Congress try to capitalise on it, more credit may still go to Nitish Kumar.”
Political parties’ stance
JDU: Development for all
JDU state spokesperson Anjum Ara says Nitish Kumar has always championed ‘development for all with justice’. Referring to Bihar’s caste survey, she says, “Nitish Kumar conducted the survey and made all decisions based on the figures, ensuring representation of all communities.”
BJP: Always supportive of reservation
BJP spokesperson Prabhat Malwar says, “BJP has always supported reservation, whether under Mandal or Kamandal commissions. From state-level to national-level backward caste commissions, BJP has ensured representation. Our recently released list of 101 fully considers caste equations.”
RJD: Will raise reservation to 75%
RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmad highlights the party’s consistent push for caste census. “Lalu and Tejashwi Yadav raised this issue from streets to Parliament. Pressure forced the state government to agree to the survey. If RJD forms the government, we will increase reservation to 75%, and with 10% EWS, total will be 85%. We will also push the Centre to include this in the Ninth Schedule,” he says.
Courtesy : Bhaskar English
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