The release of the caste census survey report in Bihar by the state government has revealed some significant findings. According to the report, the combined population of the Other Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes in the state accounts for a staggering 63 percent. State Development Commissioner Vivek Singh unveiled this report on Monday, shedding light on the demographics of Bihar. With a total population of approximately 13.07 crore, Hindus make up 81 percent, while Muslims constitute 17 percent. Additionally, the report highlights that Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains also form a small percentage of the state’s population. However, it is worth noting that the caste count may become a contentious issue for certain political parties, turning it into a potential political weapon.
The Bihar state government recently released a census report, revealing that the combined population of Other Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes in the state accounts for 63 percent. The report states that Bihar’s total population is approximately 13.07 crore, with Hindus comprising 81 percent and Muslims 17 percent. Additionally, Christians number 75,238, Sikhs 14,753, Buddhists 1,11,201, and Jains 12,523. The Hindu population stands at 10,71,92,958, while the Muslim population is 2,31,49,925, making up about 17 percent of the state’s population. Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains have relatively smaller populations. Furthermore, the Most Backward Classes make up 36 percent of the population, while the Other Backward Classes constitute 27.13 percent. According to the report, the OBC group’s largest population is the Yadavs, accounting for 14.27 percent of the state’s total population. Scheduled Caste population stands at 19.7 percent, and Scheduled Tribe population at 1.7 percent. The general category population was found to be 15.5 percent. In June of last year, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced that the caste census would be conducted in his state, after the central government decided against conducting a nationwide caste census. The caste-wise census collection was carried out in two phases across 38 districts of the state starting in January. The Patna High Court dismissed petitions against the census, allowing the survey to proceed. The matter is currently before the Supreme Court. Nitish Kumar’s recent release of the caste survey data has put him back in the national spotlight. As a result, he has called for an all-party meeting to discuss the caste census report, as well as the economic status of various castes and other related issues. Nitish Kumar criticized the BJP, claiming that the Bihar government’s decision before the Lok Sabha elections fulfilled the long-standing demands of the people. RJD chief Lalu Yadav hailed the caste census report as a historic event, despite alleged conspiracies by the BJP to prevent its release. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been actively involved in political strategies, effectively countering the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In response to Nitish Kumar’s government releasing the caste survey details, Rahul Gandhi made an important statement, promising to provide rights according to the census data. He highlighted the fact that OBCs, SCs, and STs together account for 84 percent of Bihar’s population, yet only three out of 90 central government secretaries belong to OBCs, managing only 5 percent of India’s budget. Rahul Gandhi emphasized the importance of understanding caste statistics in India and pledged to provide more rights to these communities based on their population.
Former Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi emphatically stated his involvement and ownership in the decision-making process regarding the topic at hand. He proudly proclaimed it as their own creation, highlighting the significance of their contribution. Conversely, he acknowledged the widely recognized historical role of the RJD in the Women’s Reservation Bill. These statements reflect a firm and confident stance, emphasizing the importance of their actions and the awareness of the opposing party’s involvement.
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