Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission Chairman Madhusudhan R. Naik
Bengaluru: Amid rising political controversy over Karnataka’s upcoming educational and social survey, the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission has issued a strong clarification: citizens are free to voluntarily record their caste or religion, and there will be no forced entries or arbitrary changes in community classifications.
Speaking at a press briefing in Bengaluru, Commission Chairman Madhusudhan R. Naik explained that the confusion emerged after the Commission temporarily included around 148 community names in its internal drop-down list used by enumerators. “These additions were purely for internal convenience and accuracy of data entry. They had no legal validity, no bearing on reservation policies, and were never meant for public notification,” Naik stressed.
How the list expanded
- The Commission originally worked with a 1,351-caste list based on past survey records.
- Following public representations, petitions, and corrections submitted by citizens and community groups, about 148 names were added, taking the internal reference list to 1,561 names.
- “These names were part of earlier surveys and records; we only consolidated them for spelling and classification purposes,” Naik clarified.
- After sections of the media and political leaders raised concerns, the Commission decided to mask the additional names from the drop-down list to avoid “imaginary controversies.”
No change in official caste status
Naik categorically denied that the Backward Classes Commission had created, deleted, or altered any caste identity. “This is not a caste census. It is an educational and social survey designed to understand people’s living standards, occupations, energy use, and economic conditions. Caste is only one part of this larger framework, relevant for grouping and reservation analysis,” he explained.
The Chairman emphasized that:
- Citizens can self-declare their caste, sub-caste, religion, or language in the survey.
- Enumerators will record what respondents state, without imposing pre-set categories.
- If a caste name is not visible in the drop-down, citizens may specify it manually in the relevant column.
Bengaluru and GBA survey angle
The Commission also acknowledged that the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) may require a short extension before survey launch due to administrative restructuring and training of enumerators. While the survey will officially begin statewide on September 22, Bengaluru may see a three- to four-day delay to complete preparations.
Naik stressed that this adjustment will not affect the survey’s credibility. “The timeline will be managed so that Bengaluru too completes enumeration within the notified schedule,” he assured.
Clearing misconceptions
Responding to speculation that Christian denominations were “newly added” to the survey, Naik clarified: “Nothing was added afresh. Whatever appeared in our internal records was already present in earlier surveys. We have only streamlined the backend system to prevent spelling errors by enumerators.”
The Chairman urged political leaders and the media not to mislead the public: “There is no change in categories, no new inclusions, and no legal implications. People should feel confident that the survey is transparent, voluntary, and meant only to serve Karnataka’s developmental needs.”
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