The population of India is divided into several groups based on social, educational, and financial statuses. The formation of these groups is a result of the historical social structure of the country. Between 2019 and 2021, Other Backward Class (OBC) constituted the largest part of Indian households accounting for about 42 percent. On the other hand, Schedule Tribes formed about ten percent of households.

How prosperous is India’s caste-based society?

India suffers from extreme social and economic inequality. The combined share of Schedule Tribe and Schedule Caste in the affluent population of India was less than 30 percent. Contrary to this, economically and socially stronger groups constituted the major part of the affluent population. Hence, indicating a strong relationship between caste and prosperity.

India’s thoughts on caste-based reservation

The constitution of India provides reservations to the weaker sections of the society for their upliftment and growth. However, the need for reservation has increased with time, making the whole situation even more complicated. People are divided over the existence of a system that provides preference to certain castes or sects.

In a survey conducted in 2016 about providing employment reservation to young adults of Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe, many people expressed opposition. More than 40 percent of opposition came from upper Hindu caste. Minimum opposition was observed from the people belonging to Schedule Tribe and Schedule Caste.

The literacy rate of the total population in the country was about 73 percent in 2011, in comparison to about 66 percent among the scheduled caste population. In India, scheduled caste and scheduled tribe and other backward class are officially recognized by the constitution as groups of disadvantaged indigenous people. They are the primary beneficiaries of reservation policies under the constitution.

Abstract

The gigantic task of census taking was completed in two phases. In the first phase, known as House-listing Operations, all building and structures, residential, partly residential or non- residential were identified and listed and the uses to which they were put recorded. Information on houses, household amenities and assets were also collected. In the second phase, known as Population Enumeration, more detailed information on each individual residing in the country, Indian national or otherwise, during the enumeration period was collected. At the Census 2001, more than 2 million (or 20 lakh) enumerators were deployed to collect the information by visiting every household. The Indian Census is one of the largest administrative exercises undertaken in the world.

Geographic coverage

National

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The Household Schedule and the Houselist Schedule are available in English and provided as external resources.

The Household Schedule covers topics including the following: - General and Socio-Cultural characteristics (religion, caste, language, education, disability); Characteristics of workers and non-workers; Migration characteristics; Fertility particulars The Houselist Schedule covers topics including the following: - Floor, wall and roofing material; Use of census house; Drinking water source; Source of lighting; Fuel used for cooking

This statistic depicts the age distribution of India from 2013 to 2023. In 2023, about 25.06 percent of the Indian population fell into the 0-14 year category, 68.02 percent into the 15-64 age group and 6.92 percent were over 65 years of age. Age distribution in India India is one of the largest countries in the world and its population is constantly increasing. India’s society is categorized into a hierarchically organized caste system, encompassing certain rights and values for each caste. Indians are born into a caste, and those belonging to a lower echelon often face discrimination and hardship. The median age (which means that one half of the population is younger and the other one is older) of India’s population has been increasing constantly after a slump in the 1970s, and is expected to increase further over the next few years. However, in international comparison, it is fairly low; in other countries the average inhabitant is about 20 years older. But India seems to be on the rise, not only is it a member of the BRIC states – an association of emerging economies, the other members being Brazil, Russia and China –, life expectancy of Indians has also increased significantly over the past decade, which is an indicator of access to better health care and nutrition. Gender equality is still non-existant in India, even though most Indians believe that the quality of life is about equal for men and women in their country. India is patriarchal and women still often face forced marriages, domestic violence, dowry killings or rape. As of late, India has come to be considered one of the least safe places for women worldwide. Additionally, infanticide and selective abortion of female fetuses attribute to the inequality of women in India. It is believed that this has led to the fact that the vast majority of Indian children aged 0 to 6 years are male.

Census: Population: by Religion: Other Religion and Persuasions: Manipur: Female data was reported at 118,052.000 Person in 03-01-2011. This records a decrease from the previous number of 118,174.000 Person for 03-01-2001. Census: Population: by Religion: Other Religion and Persuasions: Manipur: Female data is updated decadal, averaging 118,113.000 Person from Mar 2001 (Median) to 03-01-2011, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 118,174.000 Person in 03-01-2001 and a record low of 118,052.000 Person in 03-01-2011. Census: Population: by Religion: Other Religion and Persuasions: Manipur: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAE008: Census: Population: by Religion: Other Religion and Persuasions.

A study conducted by Oxfam in India revealed that the majority of leadership roles within news organizations across media types were dominated by editors and proprietors belonging to the general category, grossing over 88 percent in 2022. Digital media outlets were the only type of news media to have some representation of the SC, ST, and OBC categories at over 11 percent, two percent, and five percent respectively.

According to a survey conducted in 2023, the share of elementary school enrollment in rural India was the highest among the general category, with 99 percent. The enrollment rate among the scheduled caste category was 98.7 percent.

According to the results of a youth survey conducted among 15-34 year olds in India regarding support for reservations for Scheduled Caste and Schedule Tribe (ST/SC) in education, about 28 percent of upper caste Hindu respondents supported reservations, while about 49 percent of Muslim respondents supported this during the survey period.

In the Indian general elections in 2024, the number of reserved SC seats won by the ruling BJP decreased from 43 in 2019 to 30 in 2024. Contrariwise, the number of seats won by the opposition INC increased from 6 in 2019 to 19 in 2024. The Samajwadi Party, which did not win any SC seats in the 2019 elections, managed to win 7 seats in 2024.

In the financial year 2021, a majority of Indian households fell under the aspirers category, earning between 125,000 and 500,000 Indian rupees a year. On the other hand, about three percent of households that same year, accounted for the rich, earning over 3 million rupees annually. The middle class more than doubled that year compared to 14 percent in financial year 2005.

Middle-class income group and the COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic specifically during the lockdown in March 2020, loss of incomes hit the entire household income spectrum. However, research showed the severest affected groups were the upper middle- and middle-class income brackets. In addition, unemployment rates were rampant nationwide that further lead to a dismally low GDP. Despite job recoveries over the last few months, improvement in incomes were insignificant.

Economic inequality

While India maybe one of the fastest growing economies in the world, it is also one of the most vulnerable and severely afflicted economies in terms of economic inequality. The vast discrepancy between the rich and poor has been prominent since the last three decades. The rich continue to grow richer at a faster pace while the impoverished struggle more than ever before to earn a minimum wage. The widening gaps in the economic structure affect women and children the most. This is a call for reinforcement in in the country’s social structure that emphasizes access to quality education and universal healthcare services.