Telangana Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy revealed that 56.33% of the state’s population belongs to Backward Classes, as per findings of the caste census conducted in November and December 2024. This includes Hindus, Muslims, and members of Scheduled Castes who have converted to Christianity.
While BCs (excluding Muslims) form 46.25% of Telangana’s population, BC Muslims comprise 10.08% of the population, as per the Socio, Economic, Educational, Employment, Political and Caste Survey.
Caste wise population of Telangana as per the census
Scheduled Castes - 61,84,319 (17.43%)
Scheduled Tribes - 37,05,929 (10.45 %)
Backward Classes (excluding Muslims) - 1,64,09,179 (46.25 %)
Backward Classes Muslims - 35,76,588 (10.08 %)
Open Category Muslims - 8,80,424 (2.48 %)
Open Category (excluding Muslims) - 47,21,115 (13.31%)
Muslims (total) - 44,57,012 (12.56%)
Open Category (total) - 56,01,539 (15.79%)
There are at least 162 communities categorised as Backward Classes in Telangana, classified into five groups – A, B, C, D, E. Of these, Group C consists of Scheduled Castes converted to Christianity, and Group E consists of socially and educationally Backward Classes of Muslims.
The caste survey was a major poll promise made by Congress ahead of the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections, to extend reservations to marginalised communities in proportion to their population in education, employment and welfare schemes. The party had also promised to increase the BC reservations in local bodies from 23% to 42%, and to implement 42% BC reservation in government civil construction and maintenance contracts.
Announcing the findings, Uttam Kumar Reddy said it was “a historic, revolutionary step forward for comprehensive social justice in Telangana.” The survey “will help provide data-driven welfare and social, economic, educational and and political opportunities to marginalised sections,” he said.
The survey will be placed before the state Cabinet on February 4, and will also be introduced in the Assembly for a short discussion on the same day he said. Noting that the Cabinet had decided to conduct the caste census on February 4, 2024, the Minister said that the exercise was completed by the Congress government within a year.
The caste survey was carried out over 50 days, with the involvement of 1,03,889 enumerators and supervisors, Uttam Kumar Reddy said. It covered 96.9% of the state’s population (3.54 crore people), leaving out around 16 lakh individuals, he said. Out of 1.15 crore families in the state, 1.12 crore were covered by the survey, he added.
The Telangana caste survey comes amid calls by the Congress and other Opposition parties for a nationwide caste census. The most recent caste census in India dates back 93 years to 1931. From 1951 to 2011, census data for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes alone was made available. The last decadal Census was carried out in 2011, and the 2021 Census has been long-delayed, now expected to begin in 2025. Congress and other Opposition parties have been demanding that this include caste data, to know the extent of OBC population.
