The increase was only 0.8 percentage points in the year 2011-2012 as against 1.4 per cent in 2004-2005. In the case of men, the difference is almost negligible in the 25-34 to 45-54 age groups. These are (i) Scheduled Tribes (STs), (ii) Scheduled Castes (SCs) and (iii) Other Backward Communities (OBCs). The classification is based on socio-economic conditions. The population is also divided into a large number of religious groups including Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Muslims, Sikhs, etc. For the purpose of analysis in this paper, the above social groups and religious groups have been combined into five socio-religious groups: (i) STs, (ii) SCs, (iii) OBCs, except those belonging to Muslim communities, (iv) Muslims, except those in the categories of STs and SCs, and (v) Others (those who have not been accorded any special status).