Bengaluru: The Karnataka government will carry out a new Social and Educational Survey, commonly referred to as the caste census, from September 22 to October 7, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Wednesday. The survey will span 15 days and cover the entire population of the state, estimated at around 7 crore.
The Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission has been entrusted with conducting the survey and submitting the final report by the end of October. The findings will play a crucial role in shaping the state's upcoming budget.
A preliminary meeting to discuss the survey was held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, where he emphasised the importance of making this survey a national model. "The main objective of the census is to eliminate caste discrimination," Siddaramaiah said in a statement from his office. The survey will also gather detailed data on financial status and land ownership.
The Chief Minister directed that preparations, including training of personnel, begin immediately. The survey will be conducted digitally using a mobile application, a shift from the previous manual process. The earlier survey, carried out by the Kantharaju Commission in 2015 with 54 questions, will be expanded upon with additional elements this time.
The fresh survey was approved by the Karnataka Cabinet on June 12, effectively discarding the 2015 caste census, which cost approximately ₹165 crore. The decision to conduct a new survey was based on Section 11(1) of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1995, which mandates a revision of the backward classes list every 10 years.
The move comes in response to directions from senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, urging the state to carry out a renewed caste enumeration. The previous survey had excluded certain communities, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.
To ensure transparency and accuracy, the Chief Minister announced the formation of a high-level committee to oversee the survey and said an expert panel would finalise the questions. He also instructed officials to study similar surveys conducted in neighbouring Telangana to draw lessons and improve execution.
Siddaramaiah stated that approximately 1.65 lakh enumerators will be required to complete the task. In addition to school teachers, staff from various government departments will be deployed to assist. He stressed the need for coordination among all departments involved to ensure the survey’s success and prevent any complaints or omissions.
Wednesday’s meeting was attended by Backward Classes Welfare Minister Shivaraj Thangadgi, Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission Chairman Madhusudan R Naik, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, Chief Minister's Legal Advisor and MLA Ponnanna, and other senior officials.
The earlier caste survey conducted in 2015 was met with strong criticism, particularly from Karnataka’s two dominant communities — the Vokkaligas and the Veerashaiva-Lingayats — who deemed it unscientific and demanded a new enumeration. The issue has also sparked debate within the ruling Congress party, with some voices expressing opposition to the fresh survey.
With PTI inputs