Composite Backwardness Index (CBI)

Composite Backwardness Index (CBI): Recently, in a major policy innovation with nationwide implications, the Telangana government announced its plan to unveil the Composite Backwardness Index (CBI).

• About CBI: A scientifically designed metric that objectively assesses the degree of backwardness among various castes on a scale of 0 to 126.

o Aim: To objectively assess the socio-economic status of various sub-castes across the state.

- It operates independently of population size, focusing solely on socio-economic conditions.

- This initiative represents a significant shift in India’s approach to social justice, especially in the context of Backward Classes (BCs), moving beyond traditional caste-based classifications.

o Developed by: An 11-member Expert Working Group chaired by former Supreme Court judge B. Sudarshan Reddy.

o The index is based on comprehensive data gathered from Telangana’s extensive caste survey.

o Indicators: A total of 42 indicators across nine broad categories were statistically validated to feed into the CBI scoring model.

o Usage: The report will provide rankings of all 245 castes and offer recommendations on how the data can inform policy design.