Karnataka Caste Census Kicks Off Amid Delays, Protests, and Political Heat
Bengaluru, September 22, 2025 – The Karnataka government launched its much-anticipated Socio-Economic and Educational Survey, popularly known as the caste census, today, marking the state’s first comprehensive caste-based data collection in a decade. The 15-day door-to-door enumeration, with a ₹420 crore budget, aims to map the caste, economic, and educational profiles of nearly 7 crore residents to inform reservation policies and welfare schemes for the 2026 state budget. However, the rollout faced immediate challenges, including a postponement in Bengaluru, technical glitches in rural areas, and fierce opposition from dominant communities like the Lingayats and Vokkaligas, who see the survey as a threat to their political and social influence.
Launch and Logistics: A Massive Undertaking
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a vocal proponent of caste-based affirmative action, kicked off the survey at his Cauvery residence in Bengaluru, where enumerators affixed the first official sticker to symbolize the start. "This is a historic step for social justice. Accurate data will ensure resources reach those who need them most," he said, urging citizens to participate fully. The Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission (KSCBC), led by Chairman Madhusudan Naik, is overseeing the effort, deploying over 1.5 lakh enumerators—primarily schoolteachers, each earning up to ₹20,000 in honorarium—to cover households across 31 districts. The survey, running from September 22 to October 7, 2025, will collect data on caste, sub-caste, religion, income, education, and assets, with a final report due by December 31, 2025.
The survey form, accessible online since early September at schedulecastesurvey.karnataka.gov.in, lists over 800 castes and sub-castes, capturing details like annual income, land ownership, and educational attainment. Enumerators are equipped with tablets for real-time data entry, supplemented by paper forms as a backup. A toll-free helpline (1800-425-1234) and QR-coded enumerator IDs aim to ensure transparency and address public concerns. Naik projected that 70% of households would be covered by September 29, with urban areas expected to pose the greatest logistical challenge.
Stumbling Blocks: Bengaluru Delay and Tech Woes
Despite the ambitious rollout, the survey hit immediate hurdles. Bengaluru, home to over 1.3 crore people, saw a two-to-three-day postponement at the direction of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). Officials cited the need for additional enumerator training and adjustments to accommodate the city’s newly restructured wards following recent administrative changes. "We’re ensuring no errors in Bengaluru’s complex urban setup," Naik told reporters, acknowledging the delay but downplaying its impact.
Rural areas faced their own challenges. Reports from districts like Udupi, Belagavi, and Haveri highlighted glitches in the digital portal, with enumerators reporting login failures and app crashes that delayed data collection by hours. Local outlet Udayavani English posted on X, "Technical issues in coastal Karnataka slow caste census—portal down, enumerators frustrated," reflecting grassroots concerns about the survey’s reliability. Naik assured that offline forms and rapid IT fixes would mitigate disruptions, but the early hiccups raised questions about the survey’s ability to deliver accurate data under tight deadlines.
Historical Context: Lessons from 2015
The 2025 census follows the controversial 2015 Socio-Economic and Educational Survey, which was shelved after costing ₹162 crore. Conducted under Siddaramaiah’s first term, the 2015 survey estimated Other Backward Classes (OBCs) at 70%, Scheduled Castes (SCs) at 17%, Scheduled Tribes (STs) at 7%, and Muslims at 12.3%, while dominant communities like Vokkaligas (10.3%) and Lingayats (11%) appeared underrepresented. Lingayat seer Nirmalananda Swami labeled it a "conspiracy," and then-Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa (BJP) deemed it "unscientific," refusing to table it. The fallout fueled distrust among dominant castes, setting the stage for today’s tensions.
The current survey, mandated under Section 11(1) of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1994, was approved by the state cabinet on June 12, 2025, following pressure from Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, who have championed caste censuses nationwide to ensure "proportional representation." Unlike 2015, the 2025 effort boasts a larger budget (₹420 crore, including ₹325 crore for enumerator honoraria), digital integration, and a broader scope, but it inherits the same political fault lines.
Caste Politics: Dominant Communities Resist
The survey has reignited tensions among Karnataka’s powerful caste groups, particularly the Lingayats and Vokkaligas, who wield significant electoral clout. Vokkaliga leader and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar met seers at Adichunchanagiri Mutt on September 20, demanding that the survey exclude "converted Christians" from OBC quotas to prevent what he called "identity poaching." The decision to "mask" 33 Christian sub-castes from the public form—following protests from Hindu groups alleging it incentivized conversions—further inflamed the debate. Lingayat pontiff Veerasamudre Shivakumara Swami urged followers to register strictly as "Veerashaiva-Lingayat" under Hinduism, warning that sub-caste fragmentation could dilute their influence.
On X, the survey sparked polarized reactions. Activist Mohan Gowda of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti criticized the government, posting, "₹500 crore wasted on stickers and surveys that promote Christian conversions—shame on Congress!" User @kamaleshp96 rallied Lingayats: "Don’t let them divide us—register as Hindu, Veerashaiva Lingayata." Conversely, Dalit activists like @nethrapal highlighted historical undercounting of SC groups like Adi Karnataka, arguing, "Only a national census can deliver justice—Karnataka’s data will be fudged." The hashtag #CasteCensus2025 trended with over 10,000 posts, reflecting the issue’s volatility.
The BJP, sensing a political opening, intensified its critique. Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka called the survey a "Congress ploy to divide Hindus," questioning its legal basis: "Only the Centre can conduct a true caste census." BJP MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy added, "Post-conversion, you’re Christian—not Lingayat," aligning with Hindu groups’ concerns. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Karnataka High Court on September 22 challenged the survey’s inclusion of sub-castes and Christian entries, arguing it violates secular principles. The court admitted the plea, with a hearing scheduled for October 1.
Broader Implications: Quotas, Elections, and National Echoes
Karnataka’s census aligns with similar efforts in states like Bihar (2023) and Telangana (ongoing), reflecting a national push for caste-based data to recalibrate reservations and welfare. Congress frames it as fulfilling Rahul Gandhi’s "jitni abadi, utna haq" (proportional rights) pledge, but critics like @tandon_san253 on X accused the party of selective advocacy: "Rahul pushes caste census but ignores Dalit CMs in Congress states." Media outlet South First noted a "lobbying frenzy," with community leaders coaching members to inflate caste numbers to secure larger quota shares.
With Karnataka’s reservation cap already at 61%—exceeding the Supreme Court’s 50% limit via legal workarounds—the survey’s findings could spark demands for quota hikes, potentially triggering court battles. Early reports suggest strong participation in SC/ST-dominated areas like Kolar and Chamarajanagar, but boycotts in Vokkaliga strongholds like Mandya signal uneven compliance. The data, expected to influence the 2026 budget and state elections, could redefine Karnataka’s caste-driven political landscape.
Looking Ahead: A High-Stakes Gamble
As enumerators navigate logistical challenges and community pushback, the survey’s success depends on public trust and technical reliability. Siddaramaiah’s government is betting that transparent data will bolster its social justice credentials, but the risk of alienating dominant castes looms large. With Bengaluru’s delay and rural tech woes already casting shadows, the next two weeks will test Karnataka’s ability to deliver a census that balances accuracy with political sensitivities. For now, the stickers adorning homes across the state are not just markers of data collection, but symbols of a deeper struggle over identity, power, and equity in India’s caste cauldron.
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