Karnataka Launches Comprehensive Caste Census Survey to Shape Reservation Policies

Bengaluru, May 6, 2025 – The Karnataka government has initiated a significant statewide survey, officially termed the “Comprehensive Survey of Scheduled Castes – 2025,” aimed at collecting detailed empirical data on Scheduled Caste (SC) sub-castes. Launched on May 5, 2025, this caste census is designed to guide internal reservation policies and ensure equitable distribution of benefits, reinforcing the state’s commitment to social justice. The survey, which follows a contentious Socio-Economic and Educational Survey conducted in 2015, is expected to address long-standing demands for fair representation and spark intense political and social debates.

Survey Overview and Objectives

The survey, running from May 5 to May 23, 2025, is being conducted in three phases: door-to-door visits (May 5–17), special camps (May 19–21), and an online self-declaration window (May 19–23). Over 65,000 schoolteachers have been deployed as enumerators, supported by supervisors at a ratio of one per 10–12 surveyors, to cover Karnataka’s estimated 6.7 crore population. A one-member commission, led by retired High Court Judge Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das, oversees the process, with a mandate to submit its report within 60 days.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who announced the survey, emphasized its role in addressing gaps in existing data. “There are 101 sub-castes, including Left, Right, Lamani, and others, but no empirical data is available,” he said, referencing the lack of granularity in the 2011 Census. “This survey ensures that no community is left behind in Karnataka’s development journey.” The initiative responds to a Supreme Court ruling on August 1, 2024, allowing states to introduce internal quotas for SCs based on verified data, and aligns with the Congress party’s 2023 election manifesto promise to implement internal reservations.

The survey collects data on various aspects of SC family life, including family size, educational history, reasons for discontinuing education, employment status, annual income, access to reservation benefits, assets, drinking water sources, and living conditions. Data will be organized according to the 101 SC sub-castes, providing a comprehensive socio-economic profile to inform policy decisions.

Methodology and Technology

To ensure transparency and efficiency, the Karnataka government has developed a mobile application for data collection, operational from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM daily. Enumerators use this app to record responses during door-to-door visits. For those missed in the initial phase, special camps and an online portal provide alternative submission options. A public helpline (94813/59000) has been activated to assist respondents.

Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa assured that the process would be transparent, stating, “An app developed by the Department of Science and Technology ensures transparency and prevents misuse. All 65,000 personnel have been trained.” The data will be digitized and stored securely, building on the infrastructure established during the 2015 survey, which was validated by the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B) and stored by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

Political and Social Context

The 2025 SC sub-caste survey follows the controversial 2015 Socio-Economic and Educational Survey, which covered 1.35 crore households and 5.98 crore people (94% of the state’s then-projected population). That survey, commissioned during Siddaramaiah’s first term (2013–2018), recommended increasing Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservations from 32% to 51%, a proposal that breached the Supreme Court’s 50% reservation cap and sparked opposition from dominant communities like Vokkaligas and Lingayats. The 2015 survey’s findings, which suggested Dalits and Muslims outnumbered Vokkaligas (12.2%) and Lingayats (13.6%), were labeled “unscientific” by these groups, who demanded a fresh survey.

The current survey focuses exclusively on SC sub-castes, sidestepping broader caste enumeration to address specific demands for internal reservation. However, it operates in a politically charged environment. The Vokkaligara Sangha and All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, representing Vokkaligas and Lingayats, have historically opposed caste surveys, fearing reduced influence if reservation policies shift toward numerically larger groups. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga, has treaded cautiously, emphasizing the need for “correct information” and broader community protection.

The Congress government faces pressure from multiple fronts. OBC legislators and SC communities have demanded implementation of the 2015 survey’s recommendations, while dominant castes warn of agitations if policies skew against them. The recent announcement by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to include caste data in the national census has further intensified debates, with Karnataka’s survey seen as a precursor to national-level policy shifts. Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have championed caste censuses as tools for social justice, but internal party divisions—evident in Shivakumar’s and Lingayat MLA Shamanuru Shivashankarappa’s reservations—complicate implementation.

Challenges and Criticisms

The survey’s success hinges on overcoming logistical and social challenges. The 2015 survey faced criticism for incomplete urban coverage, with gated communities restricting enumerator access, and for discrepancies in caste reporting, with 1.94 lakh people unaware of their caste and 1.34 lakh claiming no caste. Similar issues could arise in 2025, particularly in urban areas like Bengaluru.

Opposition parties, including the BJP and JD(S), have accused the Congress of using the caste census as a diversion from governance issues, such as corruption allegations and the MUDA site allotment case involving Siddaramaiah. BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra called the 2015 survey “unscientific,” while JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy labeled its revival a “political drama.” Some Congress leaders, including IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge, have clarified that the 2015 survey is a socio-economic study, not a pure caste census, urging caution until its methodology is fully reviewed.

Implications and Future Outlook

The survey’s findings could reshape Karnataka’s reservation matrix, potentially introducing internal quotas for SC sub-castes and addressing disparities highlighted by the Sadashiva Committee and Justice Nagamohan Das Commission. However, any move to increase reservations beyond the 50% cap risks legal challenges, as seen in Tamil Nadu’s 69% reservation model, which required inclusion in the Constitution’s Ninth Schedule.

Political observers anticipate that Siddaramaiah may refer the survey’s recommendations to a cabinet sub-committee to navigate opposition and legal complexities. The report, due by July 2025, will likely be tabled in the state legislature, triggering further scrutiny. As Karnataka navigates this “political tightrope,” the survey underscores the delicate balance between social justice and electoral considerations in a state where caste plays a pivotal role in politics.

For now, the Karnataka government remains focused on ensuring comprehensive data collection, with Siddaramaiah reiterating, “Nobody should be left out.” The survey’s outcome will not only influence state policies but also contribute to the national discourse on caste-based reservations, especially as the Centre prepares for its own caste census.

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