Karnataka Caste Survey Nears Completion, Online Self-Declaration Open Until November 10

With the door-to-door phase of Karnataka's caste-based socio-educational survey drawing to a close, the State Backward Classes Commission has confirmed that enumeration is complete across all districts except Bengaluru city. The city's progress currently stands at 42.3 per cent.

Backward Classes Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi clarified that the deadline for field enumeration, which ended on 31 October, will not be extended. However, he announced an extension for the online self-declaration process until 10 November to allow more citizens to register their details on the official portal: https://kscbcselfdeclaration.karnataka.gov.in

Survey Challenges in Bengaluru

Officials attribute Bengaluru's slower progress to several factors. Many residents took part in the survey at their native places outside the city, leading to lower participation locally. Furthermore, the use of Unique Household IDs (UHIDs), generated from electricity meter numbers, complicated data collection in some areas. In households with multiple meters, enumerators faced challenges linking information accurately.

Minister Tangadagi said these difficulties did not affect the overall success of the exercise in Bengaluru. Sharing his own experience, he explained that he owns a house in Dollars Colony and resides in a government-allotted residence in the city, but participated in the survey at his native village in Karatagi, Koppal district. This, he noted, reflects a common pattern among many residents of the capital.

Statewide Progress

Across the rest of Karnataka, the survey has achieved near-complete coverage. Enumerators have visited over 1.4 crore households, gathering information from more than 5.5 crore individuals.

Tangadagi reiterated that there would be no extension for the field phase of the survey. "We have time till Friday evening to complete the door-to-door enumeration. Complete details about the final coverage will be shared later," he said.

The ongoing socio-educational survey is among the most extensive data collection efforts undertaken by the Karnataka government. It aims to gather detailed information on caste, occupation, education, and economic status across communities, including backward classes, scheduled castes, and scheduled tribes.

Officials believe the results will provide a valuable foundation for policy planning, welfare schemes, and a clearer understanding of the state's social composition.