The Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission has removed 57 Christian sub-castes from its upcoming socio-educational survey, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, September 22, 2025. This decision follows objections from ministers, protests by SC/ST and OBC groups, and a suggestion from Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot.
The removal of these sub-castes means that the survey questionnaire will not list them specifically. Instead, enumerators using a mobile app will record any such responses under the category "others" between September 22 and October 7. Officials have clarified that respondents can still disclose their original caste before conversion, but these entries will also be filed under "others".
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah requested the commission to exclude the names after the Governor warned that the list could deepen divides. The opposition BJP had objected to the inclusion of Christian sub-castes, alleging that the exercise could dilute the state's anti-conversion law and potentially extend reservation benefits to converted Christians. According to Karnataka BJP Minorities Morcha president Anil Thomas, the "new nomenclature will normalize conversion and encourage the gullible to convert without fear of losing caste identity".
Samajika Nyaya Jagriti Vedike president S Harish accused the Congress government of plotting "to integrate Christians into Hindu OBC communities" and of "labelling Hindu communities as Christians".
Backward Classes Welfare Minister Shiavaraj Tangadagi countered these claims, stating that the government had not assigned any labels. He clarified that during the Kantharaju Commission survey, participants voluntarily identified themselves as such, and the confusion had been sorted out.
CM Siddaramaiah sought to ease tensions by stating that the survey aims to capture the social and educational backwardness of people and to find out their religion. He added, "If someone is a practicing Christian, the person will be listed as Christian and not in terms of caste". The Congress party is confident that Karnataka's survey will follow Telangana's model, with no rollback on the broader policy.
The BJP had earlier raised concerns about the inclusion of Christian identifiers like "Kumbara Christian" and "Vocaliga Christian" in caste categories. They argued that these classifications were unacceptable and would further encourage conversion in the state. BJP State General Secretary and MLA V. Sunil Kumar stated that the government had added Christian or Muslim tags to all Hindu sub-castes, which appeared to be an attempt to encourage conversions and manipulate reservation policies. He also mentioned the creation of 107 such new categories, including Kuruba Christian, Madivala Christian, and Vokkaliga Christian, which he deemed unacceptable.
Lingayat-Veerashaiva and Vokkaliga leaders have also voiced their opposition, alleging confusion and misrepresentation in caste classifications. They fear that the survey could distort population counts. A meeting of Vokkaliga leaders resulted in a resolution urging members to identify as “Religion Hindu, Caste Vokkaliga” across all forms to avoid fragmentation.
R. Ashoka, a BJP leader, branded Siddaramaiah the “ambassador of religious conversions,” alleging that the survey promotes unconstitutional caste divisions and reflects bias towards one community. He argued that the survey was a veiled bid to divide society and single out Hindus, lacking legal validity and likely to be overturned by the courts.
