COMPOSITE BACKWARDNESS INDEX (CBI)
1. Context
Poor General Caste children access private education eight times more than equally poor SC and ST children. Pick four equally poor households from each broad caste group, and the gap in their CBI scores mirrors that of four richer households from each.
2. What is the Composite Backwardness Index (CBI)?
- The Composite Backwardness Index (CBI) is a method used by governments and expert committees to identify how socially, educationally, and economically disadvantaged a particular community or group is when compared to the rest of society.
- Instead of looking at only one factor such as income or literacy, the index combines several indicators together to measure “backwardness” in a more comprehensive way. That is why it is called a composite index.
- In India, the idea of such an index became important mainly in the context of identifying Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) for reservation policies and welfare measures.
- Different commissions and state governments have used versions of a backwardness index to determine which communities require special support under the constitutional principle of social justice.
- The basic logic behind the CBI is that backwardness is not caused by a single problem. A community may suffer from low literacy, poor representation in government jobs, lack of land ownership, low income levels, inadequate housing, poor access to education, social discrimination, or low participation in professional occupations.
- If only one indicator is used, the real condition of the community may not be fully understood. Therefore, the index combines multiple indicators and assigns weightage to them.
- Each indicator is given marks or weightage. After calculating the total score, communities with higher backwardness scores are identified as more disadvantaged
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For example, a backwardness index may include factors such as:
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3. Mandal Commission
- One of the most well-known uses of such an approach in India was by the Mandal Commission (Second Backward Classes Commission) established in 1979 under the chairmanship of B.P. Mandal.
- The commission developed a method to identify Other Backward Classes (OBCs) using social, educational, and economic indicators. It used multiple criteria and assigned points to determine the relative backwardness of communities.
- This became the basis for extending reservation benefits to OBCs in central government jobs and educational institutions.
- The importance of the Composite Backwardness Index lies in making welfare policies more evidence-based and objective. Rather than relying only on political demands or historical perceptions, the index attempts to scientifically measure deprivation.
- It also helps governments prioritize development schemes and affirmative action policies for communities that genuinely need support.
- However, the CBI is not free from criticism. Some scholars argue that backwardness cannot be fully captured through numerical indicators because social discrimination and historical exclusion are complex realities.
- Others argue that the data used for calculating the index may become outdated over time, especially since caste-wise socio-economic data in India is limited.
- There are also debates about the weightage given to different indicators and whether economic criteria should receive greater importance than caste-based disadvantages.
- Despite these debates, the Composite Backwardness Index remains an important tool in India’s social justice framework because it provides a structured mechanism to identify disadvantaged groups and support inclusive development
4. Telangana's Caste and Socio-Economic Survey
- A caste and socio-economic survey carried out in Telangana has highlighted deep disparities among various communities in the state. The findings, prepared by the Independent Expert Working Group on Telangana’s Socio, Economic, Educational, Employment, Political and Caste (SEEEPC) Survey, were made public on April 15. The survey itself was undertaken in 2024.
- According to the report, Backward Classes (BCs), excluding Muslim minorities, represent the largest social category in the state, accounting for 46.3% of the population. When combined with Scheduled Castes (17.4%) and Scheduled Tribes (10.4%), these groups together constitute 74.1% of Telangana’s population. Muslim minorities account for 12.6%, while Other Castes comprise 13.3%.
- Even though BCs, SCs, and STs form a majority, the survey revealed that 135 communities — including 69 BC castes, 41 SC groups, and 25 ST communities — remain more disadvantaged than earlier estimates suggested.
- In contrast, the OC category, despite making up only 13.3% of the population, enjoys a dominant presence in private-sector employment and higher education, receives comparatively better salaries, occupies larger houses, and generally experiences a superior standard of living.
- Since Telangana was formed as a separate state in June 2014, the government has made substantial investments in the education sector, with a strong emphasis on expanding English-medium learning.
- Programmes such as Mana Vooru Mana Badi focused on improving school infrastructure, introducing digital classrooms with English-medium instruction, and providing essential facilities like toilets and safe drinking water. Teacher training initiatives were also strengthened.
- These measures have led to a major generational transformation over the last decade. Among individuals in the 6–29 age group, 60.5% are now studying in English-medium institutions, whereas 35.3% continue to receive education in Telugu medium. This shift is especially visible in urban centres and among economically better-off sections of society
5. Statistics in the Composite Backwardness Index (CBI)
- Several states have argued that representation in Parliament should not be determined solely by population figures, but should also take into account a state’s contribution to the national economy.
- In a similar manner, social justice policies may need to consider the actual extent of backwardness experienced by a caste, rather than relying only on its numerical strength. While economic contribution can be quantified relatively easily, assessing the degree of caste-based backwardness is far more complex.
- To address this challenge, an independent expert panel appointed by the Government of Telangana designed an evidence-based framework known as the Composite Backwardness Index (CBI) to scientifically assess the relative backwardness of different caste groups.
- The framework evaluated 242 caste communities using data collected from nearly 35 million individuals through the caste survey, with each individual mapped across 75 categories of information.
- Since backwardness is a relative social condition, the index seeks to compare whether one community is placed at a greater disadvantage than another. The broader objective of social justice, therefore, is to enable historically marginalised groups to bridge these inequalities.
- Under this methodology, all 242 castes — comprising 133 BCs, 59 SCs, 32 STs, and 18 General category groups — were assessed on 42 diverse indicators.
- These included factors such as dependence on daily wage labour, access to English-medium education, availability of toilets, ownership of irrigated land, and experiences of discrimination at religious places.
- Based on these indicators, a relative backwardness score was calculated using quartile distribution techniques.
- The study is far more detailed than the framework used by the Mandal Commission in its 1980 report, which relied on only 11 indicators.
- The findings statistically confirm long-standing social observations: Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are nearly three times more backward than General category groups, while Backward Classes are about 2.7 times more disadvantaged.
- The report also demonstrates that levels of deprivation vary significantly even among historically oppressed communities, providing measurable and scientific validation for these differences.
- Within the 133 BC communities studied, 69 were found to be more backward than the state average, whereas 64 performed relatively better. Among Scheduled Castes, 18 out of 59 communities were placed above the state average, while seven of the 32 Scheduled Tribe groups were similarly better positioned.
- However, these comparatively advanced groups constitute only a very small share of their overall populations. In population terms, around 99% of STs, 97% of SCs, and 71% of BCs continue to remain more backward than the state average.
- The report further concludes that access to English-medium and private education has emerged as the strongest factor influencing social advancement, outweighing even land or asset ownership.
- Communities such as Gouds, Goldsmiths, and Christians may possess limited land resources, yet perform better because of stronger access to private education.
- In contrast, groups like the Lambadi tribes, along with Mudiraj and Valmiki communities, may own relatively larger areas of irrigated land but still remain socially disadvantaged due to weaker educational access.
- The findings underline that backwardness is shaped by multiple interconnected factors, including birth-based inequalities, regional conditions, and overall living standards
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For Prelims: Current events of national and international importance
For Mains: General Studies I: population and associated issues and Social empowerment
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Previous Year Questions
1.Despite comprehensive policies for equity and social justice, underprivileged sections are not yet getting the full benefits of affirmative action envisaged by the Constitution. Comment. (2024)
2.Why is caste identity in India both fluid and static? (2023) 3.“Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence caste system cannot be eradicated in India.” Comment. (2018) |
Source: Indianexpress
