Government sets up expert group for 'Caste Census'

Under fire for not releasing details of the caste census, the government on Thursday set up an expert group to “classify” the Socio Economic and Caste Census, 2011 (SECC) data. To be headed by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya, the expert group will be tasked with classifying about 46 lakh castes, sub-castes, synonyms, surnames, clans and gotras listed in the SECC. Arun Jaitley further said the government was keen to release the caste data at the earliest and the expert panel would only be able to classify it once the states send the consolidated details.