Cabinet approves setting up of an expert group to classify the Caste/Tribe data of the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC), 2011

No: --- Dated: Jul, 16 2015

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for forming an expert group under the Chairmanship of Shri Arvind Panagariya, Vice-Chairperson, NITI AAYOG, to classify the Caste names returned in the Socio Economic and Caste Census, 2011 (SECC). The expert group will be serviced by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Tribal Welfare. Other members will be nominated by the two Ministries. 

Background:

The Central Government had decided to collect data on Caste through the SECC vide the then Cabinet's approval dated 19th May, 2011. The SECC was conducted by the respective State/UT Governments. The field survey on economic data has since been completed and the socio economic data relating to rural areas has been released by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD). The work on urban data is under progress. According to the earlier decision of the Union Cabinet of 19th May 2011, the Government was to constitute an expert group to classify the Caste/Tribe returns at an appropriate time. Accordingly, the Cabinet reviewed the status of the SECC and has decided to form an expert group under the Chairmanship of Shri Arvind Panagariya. The enumeration has thrown about 46 lakh Caste/Sub Caste names/ synonyms/ surnames/ clan/gothra names. The Expert group has been assigned to classify this data.