PRIMUS MODEL UNITED NATIONS

Background Guide for

All India Political Parties Meet (AIPPM)

Agenda: Evaluating the Impact of the Caste

Census with an Emphasis on
the Delimitation Exercise
 Letter from the Executive Board

Greetings Delegates,

We welcome you all to the All India Political Parties Meet (AIPPM). Firstly, it is an honour, as your
Executive Board, to preside over this session. The agenda is a matter we consider highly pertinent in the
current era, particularly within the Indian context.

In this session, we will delve into critical issues that shape the future of our nation. Your role as delegates
is crucial in ensuring that the discussions are not only intellectually engaging but also lead to constructive
solutions that embody the diverse perspectives present in our country.

It is through such discourse that we can envision and labour towards a better India. We urge you to engage
in discussions with an open mind and a spirit of collaboration. Respect for differing opinions and a
dedication to the collective good are vital for the success of this session.

Keep in mind that the objective is not merely to debate but to achieve a consensus that can shape our
ever-changing political landscape.

As your Executive Board, we are here to facilitate and support you throughout the session. Should you
need any assistance or have any concerns, please feel free to reach out to us. We are absolutely certain
that your contributions will make this AIPPM a remarkable and impactful event.

Co-chair: Jacob Bobby

Co-chair: Siddhanth Kadaba

Vice-Chair: Liza Mary Rengith

Moderator: Neha Rachel Willy

Introduction to the UNSC

The political landscape of India is constantly changing. The All India Political Parties
Meet serves as a crucial convention, usually held prior to parliamentary sessions or the
introduction of new legislation. This meeting enables India’s varied political factions to
come to an agreement on matters of national significance.

Initially designed as a platform for open political discussion and consideration, free from
the legislative limitations of Parliament, the AIPPM now plays a crucial role in offering
deeper insights into national concerns.

In the context of Model United Nations, the AIPPM committee seeks to replicate this
significant forum by simulating different phases of policy-making and jurisdiction.
Delegates represent key figures from various Indian political parties, participating in
authentic debates and discussions.

This simulation necessitates that participants are knowledgeable about their designated
party’s ideology, manifesto, and principles. By doing so, delegates acquire a thorough
understanding of the complexities involved in policy-making and governance in India.
The AIPPM committee presents a distinctive opportunity to experience the challenges
and nuances that political parties encounter in modern times.

Preparation Guide for Delegates

Understanding Your Assigned Personality:

Research the political history, background, and career trajectory of your assigned politician thoroughly.
Familiarise yourself with their major contributions, key policies they supported, and any significant
controversies or achievements associated with them.

Knowing Your Party’s Ideology and Manifesto:

Gain a deep understanding of the core principles and ideologies of the political party you are representing.
Understand where your party stands on key issues such as economic policy, social justice, and regional
autonomy. Read and understand the latest party manifesto, being aware of current policy priorities and
electoral promises. This is especially crucial for smaller parties, whose ideologies often centre around
niche topics or certain social issues they aim to eradicate.
Analysing the Current Political Landscape:

Stay updated on the latest political developments in India. Understand the current political climate, major
ongoing debates, and recent legislative actions. Be aware of intra-party dynamics, alliances, and rivalries.
Know which parties are in coalition or opposition and the nature of these relationships.

Developing Negotiation and Debate Strategies:

Identify potential allies and prepare strategies for coalition-building. Understand the interests of other
parties and how they align or conflict with your own. You have the power to reshape alliances. Any
alliance will be favourably regarded as long as it aligns with your party's ideology and vote bank.
Anticipate counterarguments and prepare rebuttals. Be ready to defend your party’s stance.

Effective Use of Media:

Be prepared to interact with the media, give interviews, and justify your party’s positions. Practice
handling tough questions and maintaining your party’s image. Understand the importance of public
relations and prepare to manage your party’s narrative effectively during the committee sessions.

Awareness of Electoral Impact

● Speech Impact: Recognise that your speeches can significantly influence public
opinion and media portrayal. Craft your statements carefully to project a strong,
consistent message.

● Policy Implications: Understand that the policies you advocate can sway voter
sentiment. Ensure your proposals are not only aligned with your party’s ideology
but also address the immediate concerns and aspirations of your electorate.

● Alliance Consequences: Be mindful of how the coalitions you form will be

perceived by voters. Strategic alliances should enhance your party’s electoral
prospects while staying true to its values.

About the Agenda

Agenda: Evaluating the Impact of the Caste Census with an Emphasis on the Delimitation Exercise

A caste census is the process of collecting data on various castes, sub-castes, and social groups in a
country, typically to understand the socio-economic conditions of different communities.

While India regularly collects data on Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), it has not
officially gathered data on Other Backward Classes (OBCs) or other caste groups since 1931 (British
India). The last caste census was conducted in 2011 under the Socio-Economic and Caste Census during
Manmohan Singh’s tenure, although caste data outside SC/ST was excluded in the final report.

The conduct of such censuses is at the discretion of the executive, as upheld by the Supreme Court of
India in 2021.

Purpose of the Caste Census:

● To identify the population of OBCs and other caste groups

● Target welfare schemes more efficiently

● Ensure proportional representation in education, jobs, and politics

● Enable evidence-based policymaking

● The census also acts as a tool to calculate demographic and population totals, making it
extremely crucial for performing any delimitation exercises

While many advocate for caste censuses to help uplift marginalised communities, critics argue it may
deepen caste divisions and entrench identity politics, countering the vision of a casteless society.

Arguments in Favor of the Caste Census

● Targeted Welfare: Enables more accurate and equitable distribution of resources and reservation
benefits.

● Policy Formulation: Provides a scientific basis for affirmative action and social justice policies.

● Representation: Helps ensure marginalized groups are adequately represented in legislative

bodies.

Arguments Against the Caste Census

● Social Division: Critics argue it may reinforce caste identities and deepen social divisions.

● Administrative Complexity: Enumerating thousands of castes and sub-castes is logistically

challenging.

● Political Manipulation: There are fears of data misuse for electoral gains and increased
demands for reservations
Delimitation Overview

Delimitation refers to the act of redrawing boundaries of parliamentary or legislative constituencies based
on population data to ensure equal representation.

Why delimitation matters:

Delimitation in this context changes the representation each state gets in the parliament, using population
as the basis. The reason there is controversy is because there is a huge difference in population between
states like Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka or Tamil Nadu, so a delimitation exercise in the current context
means that southern states will lose seats because of changes in borders, which leaders like MK Stalin are
not happy with. Another reason it is not particularly popular among opponents of the centre is that
exercises like this can be used to reduce the seats in the places where the BJP is not popular, like Kerala
and Tamil Nadu, and in places where the BJP does not have any dominance. With this view, we see this
debate turn into a North vs South debate. This view is also amplified by the fact that the southern states
receive less in tax revenue for every 100 rupees paid to the centre than the northern states and one could
argue they deserve more representation.

How the caste census and delimitation are connected:

Basis for seat reservation: Since Independence, Census data on SCs and STs have been used to determine
the number of reserved seats for these groups in Parliament and state assemblies, ensuring their
representation is proportional to their population. Potential for broader impact: With the new caste census,
detailed data on OBCs and other groups will become available. This could influence future discussions on
reservations, welfare targeting, and possibly the creation or adjustment of reserved constituencies beyond
just SCs and STs.

Timing and legal framework: The current freeze on delimitation (set by the 84th Constitutional
Amendment) remains until after the first Census post-2026. Once the 2027 Census data (including caste
data) is published, a new delimitation exercise is expected, which could reshape the number and
boundaries of constituencies, and potentially the political weight of different states and communities.

Political implications: The release of updated caste data alongside population figures could trigger
debates over the distribution of seats between states (especially between North and South India) and
among various caste groups, leading to significant political and policy changes.

Effect on states

Redistribution of Seats: States with higher population growth (mainly in North India, like Uttar Pradesh
and Bihar) stand to gain more Lok Sabha seats, while states with successful population control (mainly in
South India, like Tamil Nadu and Kerala) risk losing relative representation or gaining fewer new seats.

Example – Uttar Pradesh: Projections suggest UP’s Lok Sabha seats could increase dramatically (from 85
to 250 in one scenario), boosting its influence in Parliament.
Example – Tamil Nadu and Kerala: These southern states would see only modest increases in seats (Tamil
Nadu from 39 to 76, Kerala from 20 to 36 in one scenario), or could even lose seats if the total number is
not expanded, leading to concerns about diminished political voice.

Regional Disparities: Delimitation can widen the gap in political influence between North and South
India. Southern states fear being penalized for successful family planning and social development, as their
slower population growth translates to less representation under a population-based formula.

Smaller States and Representation: The creation of new states (like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and
Uttarakhand in 2001) led to better Lok Sabha representation for those regions compared to when they
were part of larger states, illustrating how delimitation can also encourage demands for state
reorganization.

Urban vs. Rural Disparities: Rapid urbanization has made some urban constituencies much larger in
population than rural ones, leading to unequal representation within states as well.

Timeline:

1952:

India’s first delimitation was based on the 1951 Census. Led by Justice S.R. Das, it created 401 Lok
Sabha constituencies, introduced single-member constituencies, and reserved seats for SCs/STs.

1963:

Based on the 1961 Census and led by Justice K.N. Wanchoo, this exercise expanded constituencies to 518
and re-evaluated reserved seats.

1973:

Based on the 1971 Census, chaired by Justice J.L. Kapur, this realigned 543 Lok Sabha seats. However,
due to concerns of overrepresentation from populous states, the 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976)
froze seat totals until 2001.

2002:

A new Commission was formed based on the 2001 Census but due to the 84th Amendment, seat totals
remained frozen. Delimitation was applied in most states by 2008, excluding some northeastern states due
to local sensitivities.

The upcoming delimitation, expected post-2026, could significantly affect the southern voice when it
comes to things like military and foreign policy power which undermines the concept of federalism under
which we operate. States with high population growth (e.g., UP, Bihar) may gain seats, while those with
lower population growth and more development (e.g., Karnataka, Tamil Nadu) could lose political
influence.
​
Questions A Resolution Must Answer (QARMA):

1. What legislative framework will be implemented to ensure a

timely and fair delimitation exercise?

2. Is dividing and drawing constitutional borders based on

population the correct approach, and what other factors can be
used?

3. How big of a role should caste census play in policy making,

and should policy decisions based on caste census be regulated?

4. How can India balance the need for accurate caste data with
the risk of deepening social divisions?

5. What mechanisms can ensure that delimitation does not

unfairly penalize states that have achieved population control?

6. How will politics be regulated post census?

Further reading on the agenda:

https://secc.gov.in/getSeccDataSummaryStateReport.htm/05

https://next-ias-appsquadz.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/file_library/pdf/original/337289054369888000
_PDF_ORIGINAL.pdf

https://www.pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1575533
https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-north-south-divide-over-modis-plan-redraw-constituencies-20
25-03-04

https://thewire.in/politics/decoding-the-socio-legal-implications-of-delimitation

Indian Constitution: Article 246 (census), Article 340 (backward classes commission), Articles 82 and
170 (delimitation), and Articles 330 and 332 (reservation of seats for SC/ST based on census data)

https://vidhilegalpolicy.in/blog/the-case-of-missing-data-on-obcs/

https://www.indiatoday.in/news-analysis/story/india-population-census-postponed-again-what-does-the-d
elay-mean-2319535-2023-01-10