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Time of India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
PM Modi in Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar praises PM for caste census; asks Bihar voters to express gratitude
PM Modi with CM Nitish Kumar at Siwan rally (ANI photo) NEW DELHI: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday asked people of his poll-bound state to express gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who decided to hold a caste census along with population census in 2027. Addressing a rally in Siwan, which PM Modi also attended, Nitish Kumar said: "Ordering a caste census is a great thing that the Centre has done. I thank the Prime Minister for the same," said Kumar, and addressing the people, "you all may please express your gratitude towards him". A caste census involves systematically recording individuals' caste identities during a national census. In India, where caste influences social, economic, and political life, such data can offer valuable insights into the distribution and socio-economic status of various caste groups. Caste enumeration was a regular feature of census exercises during British rule from 1881 to 1931. However, with the first census of independent India in 1951, the government chose to discontinue the practice, except for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). Interestingly, under the Nitish Kumar-led Mahagathbandhan government, which included Lalu Yadav's RJD and the Congress party, a caste census was conducted in Bihar between 2022 and 2023 to collect detailed data on the state's caste composition. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Doutor: Manter a massa muscular após os 50 anos depende deste hábito noturno Revista do Homem Saiba Mais Undo Later, in the second half of 2023, the Bihar government released its statistical data on the caste-based headcount. The data showed that the politically sensitive 113-caste group known as the extremely backward classes (EBCs) constitute the largest portion at 36 per cent, along with the other backward classes at 27 per cent, which amounts to 63 per cent of the total 13.07 crore population of the state; together they constitute the social hefty segment of backward classes. Muslims constitute 17.7 per cent of the state's population, including EBC and 'upper caste' Muslims. After the figures were out, CM Nitish Kumar and his then deputy Tejashwi Yadav, decided to call it a "caste-based headcount", and not a "caste census", to escape a legal tangle as Union junior home minister Nityanand Rai had told Lok Sabha in 2021 that it would not be legally tenable to hold a "caste census" as the law provides for only count of SC/ST groups. The caste-wise breakup shows that the 'upper caste' groups among Hindus, considered BJP's mainstay, account for only 10.6 per cent, Brahmins 3.7 per cent, Rajputs (Thakurs) 3.4 per cent, Bhumihars 2.9 per cent and Kayasthas 0.6 per cent. The Bihar caste count appeared to have a little deviation in the caste-wise population of 2023 Bihar compared to the 1901 figures for the erstwhile combined region of Bihar and Jharkhand. Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha were carved out of Greater Bengal in 1912. As Stephen Henningham notes in his book Peasant Movements in Colonial India: North Bihar in 1901, the 'higher' or upper castes in Bihar then accounted for 15.6 per cent of the population, middle castes such as Koeri, Kurmi, and Yadav made up 19.8 per cent, Muslims constituted 16.1 per cent, and lower middle castes along with Scheduled Castes formed 47.9 per cent. The total Hindu population in 1901 stood at 83.3 per cent, compared to 82 per cent in present-day Bihar as revealed by the 2023 caste survey.
India Gazette
10 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Double-engine govt in Bihar has all but given up on proposed 65 per cent reservation": Congress' Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi [India], June 20 (ANI): Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bihar, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Friday alleged that the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in the state has almost 'given up' on the proposed 65 per cent reservation for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs). Ramesh, who is the Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications in a post on X, said he proposed three ways out that will make the 65 Per cent reservations in government jobs and educational institutions a reality. 'The PM is in Bihar today. On the basis of the caste survey conducted by the erstwhile INDIA bloc Government in Bihar, the Bihar Government had proposed 65% reservation for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs. This is under challenge in the Courts. The double-engine Govt in Bihar has all but given up,' he said on X. The Rajya Sabha MP in his first step asked to make the Bihar reservations law a part of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution and amend the Constitution to overcome the 50 per cent ceiling for reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs. 'But there are three ways out that the INC has been demanding for long that will make the 65% reservations a reality. 1. Make the Bihar reservations law a part of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. This was done by the Narasimha Rao government in 1994 for protecting 69% reservations in Tamil Nadu. 2. Amend the Constitution to overcome the 50% ceiling for reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs. This ceiling has only been imposed because of various Supreme Court judgements over the past six decades,' the Congress Rajya Sabha MP said. He further proposed to implement Article 15(5), which enables reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs in private educational institutions also. 'Article 15(5) enables reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs in PRIVATE educational institutions also. This has been unimplemented in the past 11 years after the Supreme Court upheld the Constitutional amendment that was introduced by Dr Mannohan Singh's government in 2006. Most definitely the INC will take up these three issues of fundamental importance to social justice and empowerment in the Monsoon session of Parliament that begins on July 21, 2025,' he added. This comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bihar, where he will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate multiple development projects at Siwan. Assembly polls in the state are due in October this year. After the government decided to include caste enumeration in the upcoming decadal census, Congress has ramped up its demand for the immediate implementation of the legislation, alongside Article 15(5) to extend reservation to OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis in private educational institutions. (ANI)
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Bihar elections: Congress ramps up reservation pitch ahead of PM Modi's visit; alleges NDA has ‘given up' on 65% quota push
File photo: Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh (Picture credit: PTI) NEW DELHI: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Bihar to launch key development projects ahead of assembly elections, the Congress on Friday sharpened its attack on the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government, alleging that it has 'all but given up' on the proposed 65 per cent reservation for SCs, STs, OBCs and EBCs. The policy, rooted in findings from the caste survey conducted under the erstwhile INDIA-bloc, is currently under judicial review. Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X, proposed a three-pronged legislative approach to safeguard the reservation framework. 'The double-engine Govt in Bihar has all but given up,' Ramesh claimed. 'But there are three ways out that the INC has been demanding for long that will make the 65 per cent reservations a reality,' he added. Ramesh outlined the party's proposals. First, making the Bihar reservation law part of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, as was done in 1994 by the Narasimha Rao government to protect Tamil Nadu's 69 per cent quota. Second, he called for a constitutional amendment to bypass the Supreme Court-imposed 50 per cent ceiling on reservations. Third, he pushed for the implementation of Article 15(5), which allows for reservation in private educational institutions, a provision upheld by the apex court but left unimplemented for over a decade. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Confidence packed. Wrinkles left behind. Philips Garment Steamers Book Now Undo 'This has been unimplemented in the past 11 years after the Supreme Court upheld the Constitutional amendment introduced by Dr Manmohan Singh's government in 2006,' Ramesh pointed out. He further said the Congress would 'most definitely' raise these 'issues of fundamental importance to social justice and empowerment' during the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament beginning July 21. The remarks come as PM Modi is in Siwan, Bihar, where he is set to inaugurate multiple infrastructure projects, including the new Vaishali–Deoria railway line worth over Rs 400 crore and a new train service. His visit also includes stops in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, with a mass yoga event scheduled in Bhubaneswar to mark International Yoga Day. The Congress has increasingly tied its reservation pitch to the broader caste-based census framework, demanding immediate legislative action. The move signals the party's intent to double down on social justice narratives ahead of the state polls due in October. Congress leaders have also linked their call for implementing Article 15(5) to the broader agenda of extending affirmative action into the private sector for marginalised communities.
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Will take up demand for removal of 50% cap on quota during Monsoon session: Congress
The Congress on Friday (June 20, 2025) reiterated its demand of making the Bihar reservations law a part of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, amending the Constitution to overcome the 50%ceiling for reservations and implementing Article 15(5) which enables reservations for SCs, STs, OBCs, and EBCs in private educational institutions. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said most definitely the party will take up these three issues of fundamental importance to social justice and empowerment in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament. "The PM is in Bihar today. On the basis of the caste survey conducted by the erstwhile INDIA bloc Government in Bihar, the Bihar Government had proposed 65% reservation for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs. This is under challenge in the Courts," Mr. Ramesh said on X. The double engine government in Bihar has all but given up, he said. But there are three ways out that the Congress has been demanding for long, that will make the 65% eservations a reality, he said. Mr. Ramesh called for making the Bihar reservations law a part of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. This was done by the Narasimha Rao government in 1994 for protecting 69% reservations in Tamil Nadu, he said. He also called for amending the Constitution to overcome the 50% ceiling for reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs. This ceiling has only been imposed because of various Supreme Court judgments over the past six decades, Mr. Ramesh said. "Article 15(5) enables reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs in private educational institutions also. This has been unimplemented in the past 11 years after the Supreme Court had upheld the Constitutional amendment that was introduced by Dr. Mannohan Singh's government in 2006," he said. Most definitely the Congress will take up these three issues of fundamental importance to social justice and empowerment in the Monsoon session of Parliament that begins on July 21, 2025, Mr. Ramesh said.
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Business Standard
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Will demand for removal of 50% cap on quota during Monsoon session: Cong
The Congress on Friday reiterated its demand of making the Bihar reservations law a part of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, amending the Constitution to overcome the 50% ceiling for reservations and implementing Article 15(5) which enables reservations for SCs, STs, OBCs, and EBCs in private educational institutions. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said most definitely the party will take up these three issues of fundamental importance to social justice and empowerment in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament. "The PM is in Bihar today. On the basis of the caste survey conducted by the erstwhile INDIA bloc Government in Bihar, the Bihar Government had proposed 65% reservation for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs. This is under challenge in the Courts," Ramesh said on X. The double engine government in Bihar has all but given up, he said. But there are three ways out that the Congress has been demanding for long, that will make the 65% reservations a reality, he said. Ramesh called for making the Bihar reservations law a part of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. This was done by the Narasimha Rao government in 1994 for protecting 69% reservations in Tamil Nadu, he said. He also called for amending the Constitution to overcome the 50 % ceiling for reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs. This ceiling has only been imposed because of various Supreme Court judgments over the past six decades, Ramesh said. "Article 15(5) enables reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs in private educational institutions also. This has been unimplemented in the past 11 years after the Supreme Court had upheld the Constitutional amendment that was introduced by Dr. Mannohan Singh's government in 2006," he said. Most definitely the Congress will take up these three issues of fundamental importance to social justice and empowerment in the Monsoon session of Parliament that begins on July 21, 2025, Ramesh said. His remarks came ahead of Prime Minister Modi's three-state visit for two days from Friday, a tour that will include the launch of multiple development projects in Bihar and Odisha and his participating in a mass yoga programme on the International Day of Yoga. Modi will be in Siwan in Bihar and Bhubaneswar in Odisha on Friday and will also address public meetings, an official statement said. In Siwan, he will inaugurate the new Vaishali-Deoria railway line project worth more than Rs 400 crore and flag off a new train service on the route. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
