How Telangana plans to use caste survey data to measure ‘relative backwardness’ of subcastes

By | May 23, 2025

Telangana has launched a major socio-political exercise by conducting a comprehensive caste survey to understand the demographic and socio-economic realities of its population. The government aims to collect detailed data on various caste groups, including subcastes, to assess their social and economic status accurately. This data will help measure the ‘relative backwardness’ of different subcastes and guide policy decisions and resource allocation.

Background: Why Telangana Conducted a Caste Survey

Caste-based data plays a crucial role in social justice across India. Traditionally, caste classifications influenced affirmative action policies such as reservations in education, employment, and political representation. However, existing data often remains outdated or lacks detail, especially at the subcaste level.

Telangana’s caste survey, launched in 2023, fills this gap by gathering detailed information not only on broad caste groups but also on their subcategories. This depth of data offers an accurate picture of social disparities and economic backwardness within castes that appear homogeneous otherwise.

Measuring ‘Relative Backwardness’

One key challenge in social justice policies lies in distinguishing communities that remain socially and educationally backward from others within the same broad caste. Telangana uses caste survey data to measure ‘relative backwardness’—a nuanced understanding of how certain subcastes fall behind in education, income, employment, and access to resources.

The survey collects a wide range of socio-economic indicators, including:

  • Levels of education attained
  • Employment status and types of jobs held
  • Income levels and land ownership
  • Access to government welfare schemes
  • Housing and living conditions

By analyzing this data at the subcaste level, the government can identify disadvantaged pockets that broader caste data might overlook.

Policy Implications: Tailored Affirmative Action

Using the detailed data, Telangana plans to refine its reservation policies and welfare schemes. Instead of applying blanket reservations to broad caste categories, the government will tailor affirmative action based on the actual needs revealed by the data.

This approach prioritizes subcastes identified as more backward, allowing them greater access to reservations and welfare programs. Such targeted policies aim to reduce inequalities within castes and ensure that benefits reach the most marginalized communities.

Challenges and Controversies

Despite its promise, the caste survey faces several challenges:

  • Political Sensitivities: Caste remains a highly political and emotional topic. Debates and rivalries often arise over who qualifies as ‘backward.’
  • Data Accuracy: The survey depends heavily on accurate and honest responses. Misreporting or incomplete data could distort policy decisions.
  • Implementation: The government must translate data insights into effective policies, which requires strong political will and administrative efficiency.

Looking Ahead

Telangana’s caste survey represents a pioneering effort to apply data-driven decision-making to caste-based social justice. By focusing on the ‘relative backwardness’ of subcastes, the state aims to create a fairer society where resources and opportunities reflect real socio-economic conditions rather than broad categories.

This initiative could serve as a model for other Indian states as they seek more precise caste data to support equitable development.