Yogi Bans Caste Usage: Will It Work?

After a directive from the Allahabad High Court, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has banned caste-based rallies and public references to caste. The ban also covers caste slogans, stickers on vehicles, and signboards.

Caste details will no longer appear in FIRs or arrest and seizure memos. Police will use the father’s name instead. This change applies across all public records and official proceedings.

The Court also directed the state to stop supporting caste-specific institutions. It asked the government to promote inter-caste spaces like schools and community centres that include all castes.

To fight caste discrimination, the Court said laws are not enough. It called for long-term programmes, including education, to shift mindsets. This includes curriculum updates that teach dignity, equality, and the harm of caste bias.

It also recommended training for teachers, staff, and officials on caste sensitivity. The goal is to make public systems more inclusive and fair for everyone.

Caste runs deep in UP’s politics. Groups like Brahmins, Thakurs, Yadavs, and Jatavs dominate the landscape. Scheduled Castes, OBCs, and tribes also play key roles in elections and policies.

Parties often pick candidates based on caste. With this new policy, both citizens and politicians will need to rethink their approach. How they adapt remains to be seen.