Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reviews the progress of socio-educational survey in Bengaluru on October 19, 2025. Ministers and senior officials were present. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
The social and educational survey conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes got another round of extension on Sunday, with the state-wide survey now going on till October 31.
However, teachers, who have played a vital role in the door-to-door census survey so far, will return to their academic duties in schools.
By Sunday evening, enumerators had reached 5.42 crores in about 1.43 crores households across the state, excluding the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) area – reaching 96.35% of the estimated households.
In Bengaluru, the survey covered 18.31 million households out of a total of 39.83 million, covering a population of 56.56 million. Progress is 45.97%, government figures showed.
The state government has also announced holidays for all poll takers from October 20 to October 22 due to Deepavali.
“The survey will resume on October 23 and teachers will not participate. The deputy commissioners of districts and GBA offices have been asked to complete the survey by October 31 using staff from other departments. After that, there will be no need to extend the survey,” Backward Classes Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi told press after a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday, which was also attended by the Speaker Nasudan’s commission.
According to the original plan, the survey, which started on 22 September (outside the GBA area), was to end on 7 October, which was extended to 19 October. To ensure that the survey is completed, the government has extended the Dasara holiday for government and aided schools till Sunday.
So far, seven districts including Mandya, Tumakuru, Haveri, Chitradurga, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru and Davangere have reported 100% coverage, while Gadag, Koppal and Shivamogga have reported about 99% coverage.
Raichur, Bagalkot, Uttara Kannada and Hassan districts have about 97% coverage and Chamarajanagar and Bengaluru Vengaluru districts report about 95% coverage.
“The survey was a little slow in Ramanagara, Dharwad and Bidar where 86%, 88% and 79.46% of the target were met. In some districts the survey has been completed. The survey will continue only in the districts where work is still going on,” the minister said.
In the GBA region, where the survey began on October 4, the survey showed progress of 45.97%, he added. “We are confident of achieving the target in Bengaluru,” he said.
It takes an exception
Mr. Tangadagi took exception to Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murty’s statement on her refusal to participate in the survey and said those in positions of responsibility should understand the survey instead of making such statements.
“The survey captures data on the social, educational, economic and employment conditions of the population of all people. It is not just about the backward classes. Please do not mislead people.”
When his reaction was sought on the slow pace of polling in Dharwad, he pointed to Union Minister and Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi’s statement refusing to participate in the poll and urging people not to participate as the reason for the slow pace.
“This behavior is not good. People will watch those in positions of responsibility. In that case, people should oppose the census to be conducted by the Centre? Can we politicize? People in positions of responsibility should behave themselves,” he said.
Published – 19 Oct 2025 21:36 IST
