The caste census drive launched by BBMP on June 23, 2025, has triggered widespread anger among Bengaluru residents. Instead of careful data collection, QR-coded stickers identifying Scheduled Caste (SC) households have appeared indiscriminately—on everything from home doors to parked scooters and tea stalls—often without any actual verification.
The campaign aims to collect data about 101 SC communities across all eight BBMP zones. As per official guidelines, enumerators were supposed to visit homes, verify information, collect self-declaration forms, and then place stickers at entrances as proof of participation.
However, many citizens say surveyors skipped these steps entirely. Several residents woke up to stickers slapped on their property without any prior notice. Nagarbhavi’s Prabudh Shetty said officials falsely claimed the enumeration had already been done weeks earlier, though his family was always home. In Kasturinagar, Nirvigna KS complained that a sticker was glued to her front door, leaving permanent stains.
Social media users have ridiculed the process. One user sarcastically asked, “Pls let me know the caste of HONDA ACTIVA!” after discovering a sticker on a scooter.
BBMP’s special commissioner (welfare), Suralkar Vikas Kishore, admitted to lapses. “Enumerators have sometimes done a poor job. A sticker alone doesn’t mean the survey is complete,” he said, promising action against negligence.
Despite criticism, BBMP claims the drive has identified over 6.7 lakh SC individuals after covering 1.8 lakh SC households and 32 lakh general households. Officials now plan to step up verification and encourage citizens to complete declarations online or at ward offices.
What if you got a sticker but no survey?
Call 9481359000 or visit https://schedulecastesurvey.karnataka.gov.in/selfdeclaration