Karnataka is set to commence its socio-economic survey on September 22, 2025, aiming to gather comprehensive data on the social, economic, and educational status of its residents. This ambitious undertaking, often referred to as a "caste census," is spearheaded by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes and is estimated to cost ₹420 crore. The survey aims to cover approximately 7 crore residents across 2 crore households in the state.
The survey will employ a detailed questionnaire comprising 60 questions, designed to collect information on various indicators such as caste, sub-caste, religion, education, occupation, income, and assets. It will also gather data on whether households benefit from government schemes. The primary objective of this survey is to provide the government with a clear understanding of the socio-economic landscape, enabling it to design more effective welfare schemes and allocate budgets appropriately. The data is intended to help identify communities that lack access to education, employment, and other essential resources, thereby guiding the refinement of reservation policies and guarantee schemes.
To ensure comprehensive coverage and accuracy, the E-Governance Department has designed a mobile app for data collection, and electricity meter readers and government teachers will serve as enumerators. Approximately 1.85 lakh teachers are expected to participate, each tasked with surveying around 150 households. These enumerators will also work during the Dasara vacation and receive an honorarium of ₹20,000 for their efforts. Unique Household ID (UHID) stickers have been affixed to homes to facilitate easy identification, and citizens can prepare necessary documents such as ration cards, Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, and land records to streamline the survey process.
Recognizing potential challenges, the government has implemented measures to ensure inclusivity and transparency. Citizens who are unwilling to share caste details with enumerators have the option to submit the information online or through a dedicated helpline. The survey also aims to list approximately 1,800 castes and sub-castes, an increase from the 1,351 listed in the 2015 survey, to provide a more detailed social mapping.
Prior to the survey, a controversy arose concerning the inclusion of sub-castes with Christian suffixes, such as "Brahmin Christian," "Lingayat Christian," and "Vokkaliga Christian". These classifications sparked objections from various groups, including ministers within the ruling Congress party and the BJP. Critics argued that these classifications could skew the representation of communities and potentially lead to political manipulation. Some BJP leaders alleged a "hidden agenda" and warned of statewide agitations, while others claimed that including Christian identifiers was a strategy to encourage conversions.
In response to these concerns, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah clarified that the survey is primarily focused on socio-economic and educational factors, not on measuring faith. He emphasized that individuals would be recorded as Christian in the religion column, and the inclusion of caste or sub-caste identity was to document retained social affiliations after conversion. Ultimately, the government decided to drop the 33 sub-castes with Christian suffixes/prefixes from the survey.
The socio-economic survey has significant political implications, as the data collected could influence reservation policies, electoral strategies, and social justice initiatives. However, the survey has faced opposition from various quarters. Some ministers expressed reservations about the inclusion of certain castes and the potential impact on their communities. The BJP has been critical of the survey, alleging political motives and demanding corrections to ensure its scientific accuracy. Several caste-based organizations have also voiced their concerns and filed Public Interest Litigations (PILs) in the Karnataka High Court.
Despite the opposition and controversies, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has remained firm in his commitment to proceed with the survey as scheduled. He has dismissed calls for postponement and asserted that the government cannot interfere with the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, a statutory body responsible for conducting the survey.
The Karnataka government aims to finalize and publish the survey results by December 2025. The updated, granular caste data is expected to reshape the state's political landscape and inform the implementation of equitable social policies.
