This book examines the socio-economic and demographic conditions of the Deprived Caste in India. The term “Deprived Caste” is used for those self-reported as Scheduled Caste across all religious affiliations in population-based surveys. The term “Scheduled Caste” is constitutionally recognized for individuals practicing Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. The religious affiliations of the Deprived Caste were analyzed with respect to three major religions in India: Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity, using data on self-reported caste and religion from large-scale, population-based, nationally representative surveys. The book provides numerical estimates on the population size, distribution, and well-being of Deprived Caste across key domains of human development, including economic status, education, and health. It describes the socio-political context, the constitutional provisions, and analyses large-scale data in the context of the current debate on extending reservation and welfare measures to Deprived Caste across religions.In six analytical chapters, the book compares these three religious groups using multiple indicators alongside four other non-Deprived Caste groups. The findings suggest that Deprived Caste across the three religious communities are heterogeneous in each domain of human development, showing significant variations in multidimensional poverty. Economically, Deprived Caste with religious affiliation to Hinduism are the poorest compared to Deprived Caste with religious affiliation to Christianity and Islam. With respect to education, Deprived Caste with religious affiliation to Islam fare the worst, while health conditions across these groups show mixed patterns. The book also highlights the socio-economic diversity within sub-caste of Deprived Caste in selected Indian states.This pioneering work provides evidence-based insights for policy interventions and developmental planning, making it a valuable resource for researchers, academics, policymakers, and social scientists.
