8 hours ago
Last Updated:September 21, 2025, 17:30 IST
The addition of these 33 sub-castes, including Lingayat Christian and Vokkaliga Christian, had previously caused a massive controversy
The Siddaramaiah-led government announced the survey after junking the report of the previous caste census, which was conducted in 2015. (Image: PTI/File)
A day before the socioeconomic and educational survey begins in Karnataka, 33 sub-castes with Christian suffix or prefix were dropped by the backward classes commission.
The addition of these 33 sub-castes, including Lingayat Christian and Vokkaliga Christian, had previously caused a massive controversy but the commission stressed that this is a socioeconomic and educational survey, and not a caste census as has been referred to.
The commission said it has completed all necessary preparations to begin the survey as planned. The process of listing households is complete and this will help enumerators to efficiently conduct the survey.
Each of the 1.61 lakh survey blocks has been assigned to a designated enumerator. They will be responsible for surveying approximately 150 households while information will be collected using a mobile application to ensure a smooth and accurate process.
The commission further said initially, 148 sub-castes had added to the original list of 1,413 bringing the total to 1,561. The updated list had castes identified in the Kantaraj committee report, it said.
It claimed that it did not add any caste on its own and the addition was a direct result of public feedback and concerns expressed by different communities. But, it has now removed the 33 contentious sub-castes in the final list. Citizens whose castes are not on the list still have the option to voluntarily write it down during the survey, which will ensure that no community is left out, it added.
The Siddaramaiah-led government announced this survey after junking the report of the previous caste census, which was conducted in 2015. He made the decision to initiate the Rs 420-crore project after several dominant caste groups opposed it and claimed it was done in an unscientific manner.
Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India's space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi...Read More
Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India's space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi...
Read More
First Published:
September 21, 2025, 17:28 IST
News politics Karnataka 'Socioeconomic' Survey Begins Tomorrow, 33 Sub-Castes With Christian Suffix, Prefix Dropped
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