• Source:JND
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The Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes (KSCBC) will conduct a statewide Social and Educational Survey, or caste census, of all citizens between September 22 and October 7, 2025, at an estimated cost of Rs 420 crore, though the exercise may be delayed by a day or two in the Greater Bengaluru area to provide training and ensure necessary preparations.

In its order, the state government said, "In view of the details stated in the proposal, approval is accorded to the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission to undertake a survey on the social and educational status of all citizens of the State from September 22, 2025, to October 7, 2025."

The survey, scheduled to run statewide until October 9, is expected to be delayed by a week in Bengaluru, where government officials will be supporting teachers in data collection.

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“Over 1.75 lakh enumerators will collect data as part of the survey, for which over two crore houses have been geo-tagged. Based on this data, 1.61 lakh blocks have been assigned to the enumerators, each of whom will collect information from 140-150 households,” KSCBC chairman Madhusudhan R Naik said.

To record caste and community information, the government has created an app featuring a drop-down list of caste names based on the 2015 Kantharaj Commission survey. This app will be used in conjunction with a 60-question questionnaire aimed at assessing the socio-economic status of individual families.

The final report submitted by the Kantharaj Commission included “new castes” such as Christian Vokkaligas, Christian Lingayats, Brahmin Christians, Kuruba Christians, along with 29 other groups.

BJP Reactions 

The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, has condemned the initiative as an “anti-people survey” and accused it of being an attempt to divide the Hindu community.

The BJP has accused Congress of trying to divide dominant communities like the Vokkaligas and Lingayats, who oppose caste enumeration. Vokkaliga leaders and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy have called for postponing the survey due to its rushed timing during the festive season. The inclusion of a religion column has added controversy over Lingayat identity, but Naik assured it won’t affect the results, treating Veerashaiva Lingayats as one community. 

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi accused the Congress of trying to distort the reservation system. “It is clearly stated in our Constitution that those who have converted are not eligible for reservation. However, they are allegedly being listed as Kuruba Christians, Brahmin Christians, and Lingayat Christians to manipulate the reservation system,” he said.

“The Congress government is working to divide Hinduism in the name of a caste survey. People from all castes have opposed conversion. Names like Kuruba, Brahmin, Vishwakarma, etc., have been prefixed with “Christian.” Congress leader Sonia Gandhi is a Christian, and this is being done to please her. If someone says they are from Pakistan or do not believe in the Constitution, will they write it down as it is? If it’s a socio-educational survey, why mention caste names in it? Under the guidance of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, they are dividing Hindus,” Karnataka leader of Opposition R Ashoka told reporters in Bengaluru.

KSCBC Chairman Madhusudhan R Naik Response 

Responding to the allegations about the inclusion of “new castes,” Naik clarified that the caste list circulated before the survey was not final. He said that the names were part of the previous survey exercise and that 1,413 caste names had been published internally to gather suggestions for additions. 

Naik explained that among Karnataka’s 10 lakh Christians, nearly four lakh identify with Hindu caste names followed by the “Christian” suffix, but all are classified as Christians in the survey. Due to concerns raised by ministers, the Commission has decided to mask 33 caste names that had caused controversy.

First Socio-Educational Survey Of State In 2015 

This is the second socio-educational survey being undertaken by the commission, following the first conducted by the H. Kantharaj Commission in 2015.

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The report from that earlier survey, submitted by then Backward Classes Commission chairman K. Jayaprakash Hegde on February 29, 2024, highlighted discrepancies in caste-wise population data. This sparked strong reactions from Karnataka’s two dominant caste groups, the Vokkaligas and Veerashaiva Lingayats, who dismissed the findings as “unscientific.” In response, the Siddaramaiah-led cabinet announced a fresh survey in June this year.