Patna: Political analyst Yogendra Yadav has raised concerns over large-scale exclusions in Bihar’s recent Socio-Economic and Caste Survey (SIR). His analysis found that around 6 lakh Muslims and 16 lakh women appear to be missing from the official data.
Yadav compared the SIR figures with Census 2011 and other demographic records. He noted clear inconsistencies, especially in districts with higher Muslim populations. The undercount, he said, distorts the true demographic picture of the state and could affect future welfare and policy planning.
The analysis points out that the Muslim population shown in the survey is lower than expected by nearly 2 percent. Similarly, the total number of women recorded is significantly below demographic projections. These gaps have triggered concern among researchers, minority groups, and civil society organizations.
Rights advocates have urged the Bihar government to review the survey’s data collection process and release detailed methodology reports. They argue that such large-scale omissions undermine the purpose of the caste-based survey, which was meant to provide a reliable social and economic profile of the population.
Yadav called for greater transparency and accountability, stressing that data accuracy is vital for fair representation in policymaking. He has also demanded an independent audit to correct the errors and restore public trust in the state’s demographic reporting.
