The H. Kantharaj Commission, which conducted a socio-economic and educational survey in 2015, identified 1,351 castes and subcastes from Karnataka during the investigation. However, by the time it was completed, its list was 1,821.
Sources say the new castes were from people who moved to Karnataka from other states. “A column has been provided for the enumerator to mark the new caste. Here new castes have been identified, many of which may belong to the backward class of their states.”
Some names include Solanki, Sood, Punjabi Jat, etc. Interestingly, many people identify themselves through their language or state (e.g. Odia, Malayalam, Gujarati, Rajasthani, Punjabi, Nepali, etc.).
There are 398 caste names that cannot be specifically identified. These constitute 3,750 people from 965 households, accounting for 0.006% of the surveyed population.
How many minority?
About 9.1 million people (15.19% covered by the survey) belong to minority communities, with Muslims and their 101 subcastes forming the largest majority of US$76.99 billion, or about 12.87% of approximately 153,700 households.
Christians and their 57 sub-decades are the second largest minority group, with a population of 947,000 and approximately 240,000 households. They make up 1.58% of the total population. The caste was converted according to the Christian plan of about 12,865% or 0.022% of 3,012 households. Anglo-Indians make up about 0.002% of the population, with 1,079 people of 315 households.
Jains and their six subcastes have approximately 419,000 households, with approximately 93,700 households, accounting for 0.701% of the surveyed population.
The state has 10,050 Buddhists from 2,106 households, accounting for 0.017% of the population. The Parsi community has 762 people with 210 families, accounting for 0.001% of the population. The lowest religious figure among minority groups is New Buddhists, with about 250 in 71 families.
publishing – April 16, 2025 03:34 AM IST
