Recent data from the Karnataka caste census reveals significant discrepancies in the reported figures for the Muslim population. Key errors in the documents have led to confusion, with one of the population percentages inaccurately listed as 18.08%, when it should have been 12.58%. The mistake has raised concerns about the accuracy of the data used to inform government policies.
The Muslim population was classified under category II B of the caste census. According to the data, the total Muslim population is recorded as 7,699,425, which accounts for 12.87% of the state’s overall population. However, another compilation of data lists the Muslim population as 5,951,038, or 9.95% of the population. A further discrepancy is found in the proposed recommendations for higher reservation, where the Muslim population under category II B is shown as 7,525,880, but the percentage is incorrectly noted as 18.08% of the total population. The figure should have been listed under the “% of total OBC population” column, not the total population column.
This confusion is particularly significant as the caste census report has recommended increasing reservations for backward communities, including Muslims, from the current 32% to 51%. The data from the caste census, which was submitted to the Karnataka Cabinet, highlights that the state’s backward communities (BCs) make up about 70% of the population. In light of this, the report suggests that the reservation for BCs in educational institutions should be increased, drawing comparisons with other states like Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand, where higher reservation percentages are already in place.
The census report also breaks down the population of backward communities across various categories. For instance, category 1A has a population of 3,496,638, category 1B has 7,392,313, and category 2B stands at 7,525,880. Overall, the population of Other Backward Castes (OBCs) is listed as 41,630,153, which makes up a significant portion of the state’s population.
The caste census, initially commissioned in 2015 and completed in February 2024, was conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes. The findings will influence future policies and reservations, with hopes that the data will be more accurate moving forward.
