The case for and against counting castes in India

Soutik BiswasIndia correspondent

Praful Gangurde/Hindustan Times via Getty Images Members of the Banjara community from across Maharashtra gathered in Thane on Saturday to press their key demands implementation of the Hyderabad Gazette and inclusion of the community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category to secure reservation benefits, on October 4, 2025 in Mumbai, India. Thousands of community members participated in the morcha, raising slogans as they marched through major roads of the city before reaching the District Collector's office. The protesters urged the government to take an immediate and positive decision to ensure justice for the Banjara community. (Photo by Praful Gangurde/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)Praful Gangurde/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

Members of India’s Banjara community demand reservation benefits in Mumbai

Counting castes in India has always been about more than numbers – it is about who gets a…

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