Backward Classes Commission Secretary and IAS officer Dayanand
Bengaluru: The Karnataka socio-economic caste survey will officially begin across the state on September 22, confirmed Backward Classes Commission Secretary and IAS officer Dayanand. He clarified that there is “no confusion” within the Commission over caste listings and dismissed allegations of manipulation.
Dayanand said the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) limits may witness a short delay of 3–4 days due to administrative restructuring. “Special training for master trainers and enumerators is ongoing. Once readiness is ensured, surveys in Bengaluru city will also move forward. Despite the delay, the exercise will be completed within the scheduled timeline,” he said.
Rejecting reports about categories like “Christian Brahmin” or “Muslim Brahmin,” he added:
“There is no such list with us. Enumerators use dropdown menus for digital entry. Unless a caste name is typed, nothing opens. No caste changes are possible.”
The survey will cover 60 questions on income, occupation, housing, fuel, sanitation, and social conditions, with caste as one among them. “This is not a caste census but a socio-economic and educational survey. Caste is included only because of its link to reservation and backwardness classification. There is no question of altering categories or reservation status,” Dayanand stressed.
Officials confirmed that while Bengaluru is a priority focus, the GBA restructuring has temporarily slowed preparations. “Ward-level monitoring will ensure accurate data collection,” he said.
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