RSS says no issue with caste census if needed for welfare, but shouldn't be used as political tool
Statement comes in backdrop of BJP’s poor showing in LS polls. It lost SC/ST/OBC votes because of what they call Oppn propaganda about threat to Constitution & lack of quota in govt jobs. Key Points
ThePrintOpposition attack on the counter has BJP playing defence. It has set agenda with caste, revdi, jobs
Third Modi govt has quickly moved away from dismissing all Congress ideas as unimaginative and is now implementing several of them. Think poll-bound Haryana and Maharashtra. Key Points
ThePrint'Overstepped jurisdiction': Why SC reversed Bombay HC order & upheld MP Navneet Rana’s caste certificate
Apex court was hearing Amravati MP’s appeal against 2017 Bombay HC order cancelling 'Mochi' certificate given to her. Rana will be contesting LS polls from the seat as BJP candidate. Key Points
ThePrintIndian-origin profs file appeal in California State University's 'discriminatory' caste policy case
Profs Sunil Kumar & Praveen Sinha last yr filed a complaint in California federal court to prevent CSU from enforcing policy. However, in November, district court had dismissed the matter. Key Points
ThePrintcaste census demand disrespecting Indira, Rajiv's legacy? Anand Sharma questions Congress' poll plank
Former Union minister had skipped CWC meeting Tuesday. Since Congress never engaged nor endorsed identity politics, it is detrimental to democracy, he writes to Kharge. Key Points
ThePrint
DMK MP calls for steps to end caste discrimination in TN prisons — 'jail manual updated 40+ yrs ago'
D Ravikumar's letter to TN law minister follows MHA directive to states, UTs to end such discrimination in prisons. It says convicts are even allotted separate barracks based on caste. Key Points
ThePrint'Manuvadi', 'regressive', 'RSS mentality' — Oppn slams Assam CM Himanta Sarma for Varna post
Sarma had tweeted Gita verse that deals with duties of those who possess qualities of Vaishyas & Shudras. Congress, RJD & CPI(M) criticise post. Key Points
ThePrintAre new reservation policies becoming jagirs?
Today's kings are politicians. They need votes. The vote bank, made of castes and communities and religions, are seeking such material reciprocity. Not just gifts during elections, or subsidies to donors, but something more substantial, something long-term, like a land-grant, that benefits future generations. Seats in medical and engineering colleges, government jobs, industrial contracts, licences to resources such as land and water and airwaves. Key Points
The Economic Times2024 Lok Sabha polls: BJP virtually triumphs over caste politics
The BJPs experiment with the welfare of “Yuva, Mahila, Kisan and Garib” has paid its political dividends in the three states of the Hindi heartland. And the road ahead for the party now looks easy with its continuous attempts to bring various castes under an umbrella of “class politics”, with the help of the welfare schemes launched by the Modi government. Key Points
Economic TimesPeople were keen to give me a house on rent – till they learned about my Dalit identity
'Concealing Caste: Passing and Personhood in Dalit Literature', edited by K. Satyanarayana and Joel Lee, brings together Dalit writings that reveal the inner workings of a vicious social order. Key Points
ThePrint
With push for fresh caste census, Shivakumar throws a Vokkaliga curveball at Siddaramaiah
Congress seems to be a divided house with Karnataka Deputy CM playing Vokkaliga card. Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha has petitioned government not to accept caste census report of 2015. Key Points
ThePrintCongress manifesto in Rajasthan assures caste survey. Party says, 'we make promises we can fulfil'
Party's manifesto also promises new recruitment scheme at panchayat level & Rs 2 lakh interest-free loan for farmers, among other things. Assembly polls in state scheduled for 25 November. Key Points
ThePrintWe need well-designed and nationally-accepted tools to measure social inequality
India needs to go beyond exhaustive census counts to build a rich database on caste inequality. It may help to combine a proper headcount with intensive field studies. Key Points
mintAssembly polls: caste is back to stir India's political pot as election cauldron bubbles
The caste survey demands have lately blown up in the wake of the Bihar findings. The BJP has held its ground so far despite growing calls for such censuses elsewhere. But given rival parties' hardening stance, it will be interesting to see how the BJP eventually deals with it without being seen as ceding ground, political analysts say. Key Points
Economic Times'Don’t want to hide my caste,' says Sharad Pawar after ‘fake’ caste certificate goes viral
Pawar's statement comes days after a purported certificate showing him as belonging to OBC category went viral on social media. NCP MP’s daughter Supriya Sule called it ‘fake.’ Key Points
ThePrint
India has gone into data discomfort. Explains silence on Bihar caste inequality
Whether it’s economic status or educational and employment opportunities, caste remains the principal factor in India. The entire country needs Bihar-like MRI on inequality. Key Points
ThePrintBihar caste survey shows 34% of households in poverty, 46 lakh live outside state for livelihood
The caste survey report presented in the Bihar state assembly today revealed that 34% of families in the state lived in poverty, with a monthly income of Rs 6,000 or less. This poverty affected not only the backward classes, Dalits, and tribals but also the upper castes. The report also noted that over 50 lakh Biharis were working in other states or abroad for better opportunities. The state's literacy rate is 79.70%, with a higher rate among women compared to men. Key Points
Economic TimesModi's ‘first OBC PM’ tag is making Rahul Gandhi aspire to be an OBC messiah now
Rahul Gandhi is Brahmin, however, he is now batting for a caste-wise census. What made the Congress go to this extreme? In my view, it is Modi who pushed it to take this stand. Key Points
ThePrint‘Incapable': Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Modi over caste census
The CWC decision comes days after Bihar released the caste census survey report. The Congress is a member of the ‘INDIA’ bloc and the ruling coalition in Bihar. | Latest News India Key Points
Hindustan TimesCalifornia governor vetoes bill passed by state legislature against caste-based discrimination
California governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have added caste to the state's anti-discrimination legislation, arguing that existing laws already prohibit discrimination based on various dimensions, including caste. Indian-American Hindu groups welcomed the decision, while anti-caste and minority groups criticized Newsom. The bill had passed in the California House in August but faced opposition from some groups within the Indian-American community. The veto comes after Fresno and Seattle explicitly banned caste-based bias, and universities including Brandeis and Harvard included caste in their non-discrimination policies. | Latest News India Key Points
Hindustan Times
Three 'R's & BJP's counterploy! Ram, Rohini or Reservation?
The release of caste data by the Bihar government has put the BJP's Hindutva vote bank agenda at risk, as caste politics has always been a counter to their strategy. With the new data likely to spark demands for a review of backward caste reservation, the BJP may need to deviate from its usual tactics. The party could consider implementing the Rohini Commission's suggestions for internal quota within OBC reservation or focus on the inauguration of the Ram temple to blur caste lines. Key Points
Economic Timescaste census data on expected lines — why it changes little in Bihar politics
Political observers say report — which pegs 63% population to be OBC & EBC, with upper castes comprising just 15.5% — validates commonly-held ideas about Bihar's caste demographics. Key Points
ThePrint'Greater population, greater rights': Rahul Gandhi on Bihar caste census results
Several Opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, welcomed Bihar's government caste-wise census results. They reiterated their calls for a nationwide exercise to be conducted by the government. Key Points
India Todaycaste survey puts OBC count in Bihar at 63.13%
Backward communities make up around two-thirds of Bihar's population, according to the results of a landmark caste survey. The survey, which is the first of its kind since Independence, revealed that extremely backward communities account for 36.01% of the population, while backward castes make up another 27.12%. Other backward classes (OBC), which include backward castes and EBCs, constitute 63.13% of the population. Upper castes make up 15.52% of the population. The survey could have significant political implications for Bihar and spark demands for expanded reservations for OBCs. | Latest News India Key Points
Hindustan TimesAfter Seattle, California's Fresno becomes 2nd US city to ban caste discrimination
Fresno in California became only the second US city after Seattle to outlaw caste discrimination. This came after a bill banning the practice was cleared in the California Assembly and Senate. Key Points
India Today
UK sees Hindu voters as easy, low-maintenance. That’s why caste is still in Equality Act
By not taking steps to right the wrong of the caste legislation, it continues to disregard the Hindu voter. This is even after they have been voting Conservative in increased numbers. Key Points
ThePrintStop seeing caste from western lens. Move away from ‘Sanskritization’ to ‘Vaishyavization’
In caste as Social Capital: The Complex Place of caste in Indian Society, Professor R. Vaidyanathan’s intellectual debate acquires a new sharp edge. Key Points
ThePrintTo accept or not to accept — Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s 'internal struggle' over caste census report
Lingayat & Vokkaliga leaders in CM's cabinet may be wary of survey’s findings. State Commission for Backward Classes has now decided to get report reviewed by committee of academics. Key Points
ThePrintRajasthan election season is all about caste mahasabhas. Time for blackmail and bargain
Over the past four months, election-bound rajasthan has seen grand assemblies by Jats, Rajputs, Brahmins, Gujjars, Kumhars, Kumawats, Ahirs, and Malis. Then came Yuva Berojgar Mahasammelan. Key Points
ThePrintDominant caste narratives drown out other voices in poll arena
Karnataka has seen 23 Chief Ministers since 1947. Of them, nine were Lingayats, seven were Vokkaligas, two were Brahmins, and five were from Other Backward Class (OBC) communities. Key Points
The Hindu
Rahul Gandhi's 'Jitni abaadi utna haq' call isn't about elections or Mandal. Goal is reform
None of the 140 unicorns in India have a Dalit, Tribal or OBC founder. On the flip side, 100 per cent manual scavengers belong to these communities. Key Points
ThePrintQuestions of justice: caste census to closure in Gujarat riots and killings in Nagaland
Call it Mandal 2.0, its potential to influence national political imagination should not be underestimated. Especially if the Opposition can link it to economic opportunities Key Points
The Indian ExpressHindutva's most formidable opponent — caste census. Why didn't Congress govts push for it?
The caste census could result in a significant shift in the existing power dynamics, political representation. BJP, Congress may not be willing to risk such a change. Key Points
ThePrintDismissal of Cisco case proves engineers were targetted because they were Indian
The Cisco case always rested on shaky legal and factual grounds. Even reporters ran with the 'facts' alleged by the state. Key Points
ThePrint