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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Cheating made bigger than it actually is: Gukesh
Prague (PTI): World Champion D Gukesh has categorically stated that the problems around cheating in chess are made to be bigger than its existence.
Speaking during a press conference for the Prague International festival, Gukesh said he did not support Vladimir Kramnik, a former world champion who has been infamously levelling charges against quite a few chess players suspecting cheating during online games.
“Obviously, I’m against any kind of unfair or unethical play," “It’s a kind of problem that we have been seeing lately," Gukesh said.
The whole world had stood out for Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky of America who died at a young age of just 29 years. Naroditsky was a famous content creator in chess who appeared to be very emotional in his last stream just days before his untimely death.
Gukesh is not the only one to join the bandwagon as earlier World number one Magnus Carlsen, FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich and Indian stars Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin had also criticised Kramnik as his allegations could not be substantiated with any definite proof.
Speaking about the forthcoming Candidates tournament, Gukesh said he did not believe in favourites and that he would love to play fellow city-mate R Praggnanandhaa.
Meanwhile in the first round of the super tournament, Gukesh will face Hans Moke Niemann of United States, another player who has fought his way to top level chess. Niemann is a dangerous customer and Gukesh likes to go for complex play which insures a fighting beginning for the World Champion.
The other Indian in the fray, Aravindh Chithambaram will take on Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan, a recent winner of the Tata Steel Masters.
