The formation of these groups is a result of the historical social structure of the country. As of 2019, Other Backward Class (OBC) constituted the largest part of the Indian population accounting for more than 40 percent
Upper caste Hindus own 41 per cent of India's total wealth: study
Lending weight to the Modi govt's new quota for EWS, which many equated with pandering to high caste Hindus, the study found that the share of wealth among the bottom 50% households to the poorest 1% is the lowest among this demographic
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Share of caste demographics India 2019
Published by Statista Research Department, Oct 16, 2020
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. As of 2019, Other Backward Class (OBC) constituted the largest part of the Indian population accounting for more than 40 percent. On the other hand, Schedule Tribes formed less than ten percent of the population.
How prosperous is India’s caste-based society?
India suffers from extreme social and economic inequality. As of 2016, 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.
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Share of Indian population in 2019, based on caste*
Share of population9%9%20%20%30%30%41%41%Scheduled TribesDalitsForward CastOther Backward Class
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Dalits
• 20%
Additional Information
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Brahmin is the highest Varna in Vedic Hinduism. The population of India that is considered a member of the Brahmin caste according to the article “The Joshua project” is about 60,481,000 people. That's approximately 4.3 percent of the total Indian population.
The Yadavs and Kurmis have become the two most powerful castes in UP. On the other side, the steady upward mobility among the lower intermediary (backward) and scheduled castes has encouraged them to organise against exploitation by the upper and upper intermediary (backward) castes, leading to caste clashes.
The formation of these groups is a result of the historical social structure of the country. As of 2019, Other Backward Class (OBC) constituted the largest part of the Indian population accounting for more than 40 percent.
A survey by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) put the OBC population in the country at 40.94%, the SC population at 19.59%, ST population at 8.63% and the rest at 30.80%.1 Sept 2007
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Sources
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Release date
April 2019
Region
India
Survey time period
2019
Supplementary notes
*According to the source, forward caste includes those castes which are not classified under any of the other groups.
The source does not specify a date of survey. Date given is the date of publication.
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