Questions raised over gaps in Karnataka caste survey as backward classes panel prepares report
Bengaluru: Concerns have been raised about the nearly one crore people who were not counted and the potential impact of this gap on the panel's recommendations, with the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, led by R Madhusudan Naik, expected to submit its report on the social and educational survey soon.
The latest survey covered 5.86 crore people out of an estimated population of 6.85 crore in the state, amounting to a coverage of 85.54 per cent. Officials quoted by Deccan Herald said participation was not mandatory, as per directions of the High Court, and a section of residents declined to share details. The total number touched by the exercise is estimated at around 6.13 crore when households that were approached did not provide information, are included.
Critics have pointed out that the absence of data on nearly one crore people makes it impossible to determine their caste and religious composition. They argue that the incomplete enumeration could allow various communities to claim they were undercounted in the survey.
The exercise follows an earlier survey conducted in 2015 by the commission led by H Kantharaj. It had recorded a coverage of 94.17 per cent. Out of an estimated population of 6.35 crore, 5.98 crore people were surveyed. Both the 2015 and 2025 population figures are based on estimates, as the last Census was held in 2011.
Dominant communities like Lingayats and Vokkaligas had strongly opposed the findings, after details of the 2015 survey were leaked in 2018. They termed the exercise unscientific, alleging that their numbers had been underreported. A subsequent report prepared by the commission under Jayaprakash Hegde, which relied on the same data, reportedly validated the earlier figures, but protests continued. At the same time, OBC, Dalit and minority groups largely supported the survey.
Citing the statutory necessity under the Backward Classes Commission Act to modify the list every ten years, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated on June 12, 2025, that a new survey would be performed following prolonged political considerations. However, it is widely assumed that resistance from dominant communities played an important part in the decision not to execute the previous findings.
The latest survey has been viewed as an attempt to strike a balance, with the commission, for the first time, including members from both the Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities. K N Lingappa, who served as a member of the commission during Kantharaj’s tenure, questioned the rationale behind rejecting the earlier findings despite higher coverage.
“If the present survey has a lower coverage, why was the data collected earlier not accepted, and what was the need to spend an additional ₹425 crore on a fresh exercise,” he said.
Naik said the concerns would be addressed in the report, which is likely to be submitted in March.
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Kadaba: Police rescue 20 cattle transported illegally, case filed against three
Mangaluru: Kadaba police rescued 20 cattle that were being allegedly transported in an unlawful manner and registered a case against three individuals in connection with the incident, Deccan Herald reported.
Acting on a tip-off in the early hours, a team led by Police Sub-Inspector Jamburaj Mahajan intercepted a container lorry near Kanvare in Noojibalthila village. The vehicle was reportedly travelling from Periyashanthi towards Mardhala.
During inspection, police allegedly found the cattle tightly packed inside the container under poor conditions. The driver was identified as Irfan (26), a resident of Belur in Hassan district. During questioning, he failed to produce any valid permit for transporting the cattle and admitted that the animals were being transported from Hassan to Kerala.
Police seized the vehicle along with the cattle.
A case has been registered at Kadaba Police Station under Sections 4, 7, and 12 of the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020, and Sections 4 and 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
Further investigation is underway.
