D. Shyam Babu on Caste Census and the Politics of Social Justice in India

<p>The last publicly available nation-wide caste census in India was conducted in 1931. Now, a state-wide caste census has become available from the government of Bihar. Even though we know the Indian state collects data on a variety of markers and indicators, whether socioeconomic or health-related, there seems to be a reluctance when it comes to collecting data on caste. </p><p>What is the reason for this? What are the complexities involved in capturing caste in India? How should we think about the categorization and sub-categorization of caste? What will the politics of caste look like going forward? What are the ways in which a caste census can be conducted more efficiently? What are the different aspects of the politics of social justice in India? What have been the successes and failures of social justice in India?</p><p>In this episode of Interpreting India, <a href="https://cprindia.org/people/d-shyam-babu/"><strong>D. Shyam Babu</strong></a> joins <a href="https://carnegieindia.org/experts/1691"><strong>Suyash Rai</strong></a> to discuss these questions and more.</p><p><strong>Episode Contributors</strong></p><p><a href="https://cprindia.org/people/d-shyam-babu/"><strong>D. Shyam Babu</strong></a> is a senior fellow at the Centre for Policy Research. His current research interests include socioeconomic mobility among Dalits, liberalization and social justice, and the role of entrepreneurship in mobility. He has also collaborated with Devesh Kapur and Chandra Bhan Prasad to conduct socioeconomic surveys to map social change and its linkages with public policies and entrepreneurship among Dalits. Their 2014 co-authored book, <a href="https://www.penguin.co.in/book/defying-the-odds/"><i>Defying the Odds</i></a>, has received critical acclaim.</p><p><a href="https://carnegieindia.org/experts/1691"><strong>Suyash Rai </strong></a>is a deputy director and fellow at Carnegie India. His research focuses on the political economy of economic reforms and the performance of public institutions in India. His current