Citizens’ group terms resistance to K'taka socio-educational survey “irrational, anti-marginalised"
Bengaluru: Participants at a panel discussion on Sunday criticised the opposition to Karnataka’s ongoing socio-educational survey, commonly referred to as the caste census, describing the resistance as irrational and detrimental to the welfare of marginalised communities and the state’s overall development.
The discussion, organised by the citizens’ collective Bahutva Karnataka, brought together experts including academic and writer Professor A. Narayana, former head of the Department of Women’s Studies at Karnataka Women’s University Professor R. Sunandamma, research scholar Dr Azhar, and journalist Anisha Sheth.
Professor Narayana said it was concerning that an exercise aimed at gathering data had become a point of contention. “Development in India has largely benefited some groups over others. Without updated and reliable data, it is difficult to ensure equitable growth,” Deccan Herald quoted him as saying. He added that in the absence of fresh data since the 1931 census, the current survey holds great significance.
Professor Sunandamma observed that the earlier 2015 survey report had shortcomings, as several of its conclusions were not adequately substantiated. She said the new survey must address those gaps to ensure credibility.
Dr Azhar pointed out that previous reports of Karnataka’s Backward Classes Commissions consistently showed that religious minorities, particularly Christians and Muslims, remain underdeveloped in terms of education, employment, and gender balance. He said that while governments often announce welfare schemes for minorities, there is little focus on long-term development and poor utilisation of allocated funds. “This survey could provide the foundation for evidence-based policies to improve social and educational outcomes among minorities,” he added.
Journalist Anisha Sheth observed that both the government and the commission had not sufficiently communicated the constitutional and legal basis of the survey to the public. She noted that dominant castes had earlier criticised the 2015 survey as unscientific without providing valid reasoning. “A survey that covered 94 percent of the state cannot simply be dismissed as unscientific,” she said, urging better communication and transparency in the process.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
