Image Source: The Indian Express

Agencies:

Sikhs to be counted as a separate ethnic group in 2020 US census for first time

8th-September-2020

For the first time in US history, the Census Bureau will count Sikhs as a �distinct� ethnic group. This is a significant step towards establishing a separate identity away from the composite �Asian Indian� category for people from India who are broadly known as Indian Americans.

Some experts believe the decision potentially gives ammunition to Sikh separatists who promote the idea of Khalistan from the comfort of their homes in the US, Canada and other western countries.

Others stress there is no cause for anxiety and a counting will help Sikhs become less �invisible� in the context of US Government policies.

The Census Bureau is currently engaged in a decennial count by mail, phone and online and the process is expected to end September 30. Sikhs will be allowed to �self identify� if they write �Sikh� in answer to the question on race and will be counted separately under a unique code. Further, they will go under the broader category of �Asian� and not under �Asian Indian� as was the case in the 2010 count when �Sikh� was seen as a �religious� response.