Karnataka Caste Census Sparks Political Storm, Push for 51% OBC Quota
The long-awaited Karnataka Socio-Economic and Educational Survey, conducted in 2015 and recently submitted to the state cabinet, has ignited sharp political debate. Often dubbed the “caste census,” the report proposes increasing OBC reservations to 51%, citing that they constitute nearly 70% of the state’s population.
The survey, overseen by then Backward Classes Commission Chairman H. Kantharaj, covered over 1.35 crore households and categorized 1,351 castes. It collected extensive data on education, occupation, and economic status, later validated by IIM-B and digitized by BEL.
Critics, including the BJP and JD(S), have labelled the findings “unscientific,” especially questioning the reported population figures for dominant groups like Lingayats (11.09%) and Vokkaligas (10.31%), which are lower than prior estimates. Discrepancies in Muslim population figures between total and reserved category data also drew scrutiny.
Kantharaj defended the survey, asserting the methodology was robust, and emphasized the survey’s broader goal: equitable governance, not just reservation. “It helps in planning development – roads, water, electricity, and schemes – not just quotas,” he said.
The report also recommends creamy layer implementation across all OBC categories, inclusion of 120 new castes, and a 1% quota for orphans. Despite gaps in urban data collection, officials insist the findings offer a more accurate socio-economic picture than outdated estimates from 2011.
If implemented, Karnataka’s total reservation could rise to 85%, following the lead of Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand in breaching the 50% ceiling set by the Supreme Court’s Indira Sawhney judgment.
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