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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on April 28, 2025

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The chaos of Karnataka’s caste survey

For Preliminary Examination:  Current events of national and internartional Significance

For Mains Examination: GS II - Indian Polity & Governance

Context:

On April 11, a nearly 10-year-old Socio-Economic and Educational Survey (popularly called the Caste Census) prepared by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes was dusted off and accepted by the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet. Two days prior, the listing of the Caste Census in the Cabinet’s agenda for discussion had surprised many. For the Chief Minister had on multiple occasions announced a discussion only to rescind it as political implications were believed to be far-reaching and difficult to handle.

Read about:

Bihar caste Survey

Significance of Caste Survey

Key takeaways:

Although the survey results and recommendations were finalized by late 2017, Mr. Kantharaj was unable to submit the report because the member-secretary had not signed it. As a result, the report was not received by either the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition government or the BJP government that followed.

As the population data became clear to the Cabinet, political tensions surged, revealing a divide between the politically dominant Vokkaliga and Veerashaiva-Lingayat communities and other backward classes. The Cabinet convened again on April 17 to discuss the recommendations but did not make a decision. Although further deliberations have been scheduled for May 2, no concrete resolution on the commission's recommendations is expected. Meanwhile, the matter has been taken to the Karnataka High Court.

Key Findings of the Survey:

• The survey, closely monitored for its caste-specific population data due to its political implications, was initially intended to analyze "backwardness" for the development of policies aimed at uplifting these communities.
• According to the survey, approximately 70% of the population in the state belongs to backward classes.
• Muslims represent the largest group, with around 75.25 lakh or 12.58% of the total population. The Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, a dominant political and land-owning group in North and Central Karnataka, follows with 66.35 lakh or 11%.
• The Vokkaliga community, another politically influential and land-owning group from the Old Mysore region, accounts for 61.58 lakh or 10.29%.
• Scheduled Castes make up 18.2% of the population (about 1.09 crore), and Scheduled Tribes comprise 7.1% (43.81 lakh). Together, these groups represent 24.1% of the state's population.
• The general category, which includes Brahmins, Arya Vaishyas, Mudaliars, Nagartharu, and some Jains, constitutes about 4.9% of the population (29.74 lakh).

Recommendations of the Hegde Commission:

• The Hegde Commission has proposed increasing the total reservation for backward classes from 32% to 51%. It also recommends a reclassification of castes into six categories instead of the current five. The commission has suggest