# Karnataka Cabinet Defers Decision on Decade-Old Caste Survey 2026-08-06T20:47:08+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Karnataka Cabinet has deferred a decision on a 2015 Socio-Economic and Educational Survey, with further discussion scheduled for May 2. The survey covered 1.35 crore households and 5.98 crore people, nearly 95% of the then projected population. Its findings put backward classes at about 70% of Karnataka’s population. Muslims account for 12.58%, Veerashaiva-Lingayats 11%, Vokkaligas 10.29%, Scheduled Castes 18.2% and Scheduled Tribes 7.1%. The Hegde Commission has recommended raising backward-class reservations from 32% to 51%, along with a new six-category classification. The socio-economic data has not been released publicly. Vokkaliga and Veerashaiva-Lingayat organisations have rejected the figures as unscientific, citing omissions, sub-caste confusion and the survey’s age. The matter is also before the Karnataka High Court. ## Coverage - thehindu.com Tags: backward classes, caste survey, Karnataka, reservations, Siddaramaiah Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/karnataka-cabinet-defers-decision-on-decade-old-caste-survey/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/karnataka-cabinet-defers-decision-on-decade-old-caste-survey/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.