Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reviewing the progress of the Socio-Educational Survey in Bengaluru on October 19, 2025. Ministers and senior officials were present.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Social and Educational Survey being conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes received another round of extension on Sunday, with the State-wide survey now to be held till October 31.
Teachers who have so far played a crucial role in the door-to-door survey to enumerate the population, will, however, return to their academic responsibilities in schools.
By Sunday evening, the enumerators had reached out to 5.42 crores in about 1.43 crore households across the State, barring Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) region — reaching 96.35 % of the estimated household.
In Bengaluru, the survey reached 18.31 lakh households out of the total 39.83 lakh, covering 56.56 lakh population. The progress has been 45.97 %, data from the government showed.
The State government has also announced holidays to all those participating in the survey from October 20 to October 22 on account of Deepavali.
“The survey would again resume on October 23 and teachers will not be participating. The deputy commissioners of districts and GBA authorities have been asked to complete the survey before October 31, using personnel from other departments. There will be no necessity to extend the survey after that,” Minister for Backward Classes Shivaraj Tangadagi told presspersons after a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in which commission’s chairman Madhusudan Naik also took part on Sunday.
According to the initial schedule, the survey that started on September 22 (barring GBA region) was to end on October 7, which was extended till October 19. To ensure the survey would be completed, the government had extended the Dasara holidays 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 a coverage of about 97%, and Chamarajanagar and Bengaluru Rural districts have reported about 95% coverage.
“The survey has been a little slow in Ramanagara, Dharwad, and Bidar where 86%, 88 % and 79.46 % of the target has been met respectively. In some districts, the survey has been completed. The survey will be continued only in districts where work is still pending,” the Minister said.
In GBA region where the survey commenced on October 4, the survey has shown a progress of 45.97 %,he added. “We are confident of achieving the target in Bengaluru,” he said.
Takes exception
Taking exception to Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murty’s statement on her refusal to take part in the survey, Mr. Tangadagi said that those in responsible positions should understand the survey instead of making such statements.
“The survey is capturing data on social, educational, economic and employment of the population of all people. This is not restricted to backward classes. Please do not mislead people.”
When his reaction was sought on the slow pace of the survey in Dharwad, he pointed out at the statement of Union Minister and Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi refusing to participate in the survey and urging people not to participate, as the reason for the slow pace.
“This behavior is not good. People will be observing those in responsible positions. In that case, should people oppose the Census to be conducted by the Centre? Can we politicise? People in responsible positions should behave properly,” he said.
Published – October 19, 2025 09:36 pm IST
