Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced a temporary closure of government and aided schools across the state from October 8 to 18 to enable teachers to participate fully in the ongoing Social and Educational Survey, popularly known as the caste census. The decision follows delays in the enumeration process in several districts, which prompted the government to extend the survey period till October 19. Initially launched on September 22 and scheduled to conclude on October 7, the exercise has faced uneven progress, necessitating additional time for completion.
Siddaramaiah explained that while some districts, such as Koppal, had nearly finished their tasks with about 97 percent completion, others like Dakshina Kannada and Udupi had only reached around 60 percent. “Across the state, the survey has not progressed as per our expectations. It is not possible to complete it within the initial deadline,” the Chief Minister said, highlighting the importance of thorough data collection for the success of the exercise.
Following consultations with the Permanent Backward Classes Commission, the Education Department formally extended the survey period. The large-scale operation involves approximately 1.6 lakh personnel — including 1.2 lakh teachers and 40,000 additional staff — who are working to gather socio-economic and caste-related data from households across Karnataka. To assist the enumerators, the government granted holidays for schools during the extended period, responding to repeated appeals from teachers’ associations who sought dedicated time to focus on fieldwork. Teachers currently engaged in II PUC midterm examinations, however, will remain exempt from survey duties.
In Bengaluru, where around 6,000 to 7,000 teachers and 24,000 other personnel are part of the enumeration process, the government has sanctioned eight working days as special holidays, along with regular public holidays, making a total of 12 days available to complete the work. Each enumerator has been tasked with covering approximately 15 households per day. To encourage active participation, the government also announced an honorarium of ₹20,000 for every teacher and enumerator involved — consisting of a fixed payment of ₹5,000 plus ₹100 per household surveyed.
Siddaramaiah further cautioned that strict disciplinary action would be taken against those failing to fulfill their assigned duties. In a compassionate gesture, he announced compensation of ₹20 lakh each for the families of three individuals who lost their lives while conducting the survey, recognizing their contribution to the state’s social welfare initiative.
Meanwhile, the Department of School Education and Literacy has adjusted school timings to ensure that academic schedules are not severely disrupted. In the Greater Bengaluru region, classes will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. between October 8 and 24, while in other districts, modified timings will be implemented from October 8 to 12.
The Social and Educational Survey is being conducted under the supervision of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes and follows a structured scientific approach. It includes a detailed 60-question questionnaire covering aspects such as caste, income, education, and living standards. The total estimated cost of the current project stands at ₹420 crore — significantly higher than the ₹165.51 crore spent on the previous caste census in 2015, which was ultimately discarded.
The latest exercise aims to provide an updated and reliable database to guide state policies on education, welfare, and reservations. Siddaramaiah has repeatedly emphasized that the survey is essential for promoting social justice and equitable resource distribution across communities in Karnataka.
