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The demand of caste census in India
Mandal Commission
The Mandal Commission, which was appointed by the Government of India in 1979.
To identify the socially and educationally backward classes of India.
The commission was headed by B. P. Mandal and submitted its report in 1980.
The Mandal Commission estimated that 52% of the total population of India ,excluding SCs and STs.
Commission identified 3,743 different castes and communities, were 'backward'.
The commission recommended that 27% of government jobs be reserved for OBCs.
The Mandal Commission's recommendations were implemented in 1990.
The Mandal Commission's report did not include caste-wise population data.
The Indian census does not collect data on caste.
Instead, the commission used 1931 census data to calculate the number of OBCs.
This has led to some criticism, as the OBC population grown significantly since 1931.
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