The Karnataka government on Friday accepted the long-awaited Socio-Economic and Educational Survey (popularly known as the caste census) report, which has proposed a substantial revision in the state’s reservation structure, The Hindu reported.
According to the report, the backward classes population constitutes nearly 70 percent of the state’s population. In response, the caste census has recommended increasing reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) from 32 percent to 51 percent, taking the total reservation in the state to 85 percent. This figure includes 10 percent for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and 24 percent for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), The Hindu added.
In a significant move, the report proposes reclassification of castes under a new six-category matrix, up from the existing five. It recommends splitting Category 1 into two, 1-A and 1-B, and applying the creamy layer concept even to Category 1, which had previously been exempted.
A new Category 1-A has been created specifically for nomadic and most backward castes. These communities, which were earlier included in Category 2-A, have now been moved to 1-A, which will be allotted 6 percent reservation. Orphan children without caste identification are also covered under this group. The 1-A population is pegged at approximately 34.96 lakh, or 8.4 percent of the state’s population. Category 1, as a whole, currently receives 4 percent reservation.
“The nomadic castes cannot compete with any other castes and hence we felt a separate category is required for them under 1-A. The categorisation and percentage reservation allocated to each is based on education, employment and other factors,” sources told The Hindu.
The Kuruba community, which was earlier under 2-A, is now proposed to be moved to Category 1-B, which will get a 12 percent reservation. The combined population of communities in this group is about 73.92 lakh, or 17.74 percent of the total population.
The reservation for Muslims in Category 2-B is set to double, from the current 4 percent to 8percent, based on documents obtained from government sources, The Hindu reported.
Meanwhile, Category 2-A will now include a population of 77.75 lakh (18.7 percent of the population) and will be allotted 10 percent reservation, down from the current 15 percent. Category 3-A, which includes the Vokkaliga community and others, is recommended for a 7 percent reservation, an increase from 4 percent, for its 17.53 percent population share (72.99 lakh people).
However, the demand by Panchamasali Lingayats for inclusion in Category 2-A has not been fulfilled. They will remain in Category 3-B, which now includes various Lingayat sub-castes and other communities. This group, which comprises the largest segment at 81.37 lakh or 19.55 percent of the population, is being offered 8 percent reservation — up from 5 percent.
The current report was submitted in 2024 by K. Jayaprakash Hegde, former chairman of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes. It is based on a caste survey conducted in 2015 under then chairman H. Kantharaj. The survey accounted for 5.98 crore people out of the projected 6.35 crore population at the time, The Hindu noted.
The findings, if implemented, could have far-reaching political and social implications in Karnataka, especially in the backdrop of ongoing demands from influential caste groups and the broader national debate over caste-based reservations.