Scheduled castes in Karnataka
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Schedule Castes population in Karnataka is estimated at 10.9 million as per 2011 census of India, accoounting for about 17.15% of total state population.[1] The Government of Karnataka has listed 101 communities and their sub-castes as Schedule Castes in the state.[2][3] The Scheduled Castes in Karnataka are divided into 3 categories with Group A, B and C, having internal reservations.
The issue of the sub-classification of the Scheduled Castes in Karnataka was raised in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from the late 1980s.[4] The matter came into hype again in the 2010s, when the BJP Karnataka politician C. Narayanaswamy who himself was a Dalit[5] raised the issue of internal reservation in Scheduled Castes (SC) community through sub-classification of the communities.[6] There had been conflict of interest between the SC communities regarding subclassification, particularly among the left-side and right-side Dalits communities. The Left-side Dalit includes mainly Madigas and other leatherworker castes, while the Right-side one includes Holeya and Chalavadi who were agriculturalist labourers arguing that Right-side communities were better off than left-side ones.[7]
In 2025, the Government of Karnataka announced for the subclassification of the Scheduled Castes communities in three categories A, B and C on the basis of Right-side, Left-side and Touchable SCs with internal reservation through THE KARNATAKA SCHEDULED CASTES (SUB-CLASSIFICATON) BILL, 2025.[8]
- Group A: Left-side SCs (Madiga and other leatherworker castes)
- Group B: Right-side SCs (Chalavadi and other labourer castes)
- Group C: Touchable SCs (Lambadis and other touchable artisan castes)
Though three communities, namely Adi Andhra, Adi Dravida and Adi Karnataka were listed in both Group A and B.[9]
| Scheduled Castes | Reservation
(Internal) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Communities | Group | |
| 001 | Adi Andhra | Both Group A and B | 12% (6 + 6)% |
| 002 | Adi Dravida | ||
| 003 | Adi Karnataka | ||
| 022 | Bhambi, Bhambhi, Asadaru, Asodi, Chamadia, Chamar, Chambhar, Chamgar, Haralayya, Harali, Khalpa, Machigor, Mochigar Madar, Madig, Mochi, Muchi, Telegu Mochi, Kamati Mochi, Ranigar, Rohidas, Rohit, Samgar | Group A | 6% |
| 028 | Chandala | ||
| 029 | Dhor, Kakkayya, Kakkayaa | ||
| 040 | Halsar, Haslar, Hulasvar, Halasvar | ||
| 042 | Hasla | ||
| 048 | Kadaiyan | ||
| 050 | Kepmaris | ||
| 051 | Kolupulvandlu | ||
| 056 | Kudumban | ||
| 061 | Madiga | ||
| 072 | Mang, Matang, Minimadig | ||
| 076 | Mavilan | ||
| 088 | Panchama | ||
| 089 | Panniandi | ||
| 093 | Samagara | ||
| 094 | Samgan | ||
| 007 | Anamuk | Group B | 6% |
| 008 | Aray Mala | ||
| 010 | Arwa Mala | ||
| 015 | Balagai | ||
| 027 | Chalavadi, Chalvadi, Channayya | ||
| 086 | Pallan | ||
| 044 | Holaya, Holeya, Holar | ||
| 062 | Mahar, Dhegumegu | ||
| 063 | Mahyavanshi, Dhed, Vankar, Maru Vankar | ||
| 065 | Mala | ||
| 067 | Mala Hannai | ||
| 068 | Mala Jangam | ||
| 069 | Mala Masti | ||
| 070 | Mala Sale, Netkani | ||
| 078 | Moger | ||
| 080 | Mundala | ||
| 090 | Paraiya, Paraya | ||
| 091 | Raneyan | ||
| 101 | Valluvan | ||
| 004 | Adiya [in Coorg district] | Group C | 5% |
| 005 | Ager | ||
| 006 | Ajila | ||
| 009 | Arunthathiyar | ||
| 011 | Baira | ||
| 012 | Bakad | ||
| 013 | Bant [in Belgaum, Bijapur, Dharwar and North Kanara districts] | ||
| 014 | Bakuda | ||
| 016 | Bandi | ||
| 017 | Banjara, Lambadi, Lamabadi, Lambani, Sugali | ||
| 018 | Bathada | ||
| 019 | Beda Jangam, Budga Jangam | ||
| 020 | Bellara | ||
| 021 | Bhangi, Mehtar, Olgana, Rukhi, Malkana Halalkhor, Lalbegi, Balmiki, Korar, Zadmalli | ||
| 023 | Bhovi, Od, Woddar, Voddar, Kalluvadar, Mannuvadar | ||
| 024 | Bindla | ||
| 025 | Byagara | ||
| 026 | Chakkiliyan | ||
| 029 | Chenna Dasar, Holar Dasar | ||
| 030 | Dakkal, Dakkalwar | ||
| 031 | Dakkaliga | ||
| 033 | Dom, Dombara, Paidi, Pano | ||
| 034 | Ellamalwar, Yellammalawandlu | ||
| 035 | Ghanti Chores | ||
| 036 | Garoda, Garo | ||
| 037 | Godda | ||
| 038 | Gosangi | ||
| 039 | Halleer | ||
| 041 | Handi Jogis | ||
| 043 | Holar, Valhar | ||
| 045 | Holeya Dasari | ||
| 046 | Jaggali | ||
| 047 | Jambuvulu | ||
| 049 | Kalladi | ||
| 052 | Koosa | ||
| 053 | Koracha, Korachar | ||
| 054 | Korama, Korava, Koravar | ||
| 055 | Kotegar, Metri | ||
| 057 | Kuruvan | ||
| 058 | Lingader | ||
| 059 | Machala | ||
| 060 | Madari | ||
| 064 | Maila | ||
| 066 | Mala Dasari | ||
| 071 | Mala Sanyasi | ||
| 073 | Mang Garudi, Mang Garodi | ||
| 074 | Manne | ||
| 075 | Masthi | ||
| 077 | Meghwal, Menghvar | ||
| 079 | Mukri | ||
| 081 | Nadia, Hadi | ||
| 082 | Nalkadaya | ||
| 083 | Nalakeyya | ||
| 084 | Nayadi | ||
| 085 | Pale | ||
| 087 | Pambada | ||
| 091 | Paravan | ||
| 095 | Sapari | ||
| 096 | Sillekyathas | ||
| 097 | Sindhollu, Chindollu | ||
| 098 | Sudugadu Siddha | ||
| 099 | Thoti | ||
| 100 | Tirgar, Tirbanda | ||
Demographics
Community-wise
| Scheduled Castes | Population (2011)[1] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Community | Total population | %age of total |
| 001 | Adi Andhra | 26,486 | |
| 002 | Adi Dravida | 7,95,620 | |
| 003 | Adi Karnataka | 29,20,942 | |
| 004 | Adiya (in Coorg district) | 811 | |
| 005 | Ager | 6,642 | |
| 006 | Ajila | 2,448 | |
| 007 | Anamuk | 75 | |
| 008 | Aray Mala | 94 | |
| 009 | Arunthathiyar | 2,385 | |
| 010 | Arwa Mala | 260 | |
| 011 | Baira | 4,049 | |
| 012 | Bakad | 808 | |
| 013 | Bant (in Belagavi, Bijapur, Dharwad and Uttara Kannada districts) | 1,390 | |
| 014 | Bakuda | 1,566 | |
| 015 | Balagai | 2,180 | |
| 016 | Bandi | 678 | |
| 017 | Banjara, Lambadi, Lamadi, Sulagi, Sulagavi | 12,67,036 | |
| 018 | Bathada | 2,632 | |
| 019 | Beda Jangam, Budga Jangam | 1,17,164 | |
| 020 | Bellara | 1,243 | |
| 021 | Bhangi, Mehtar, Olgana, Rukhi, Halalkhor, Lal Begi, Balmiki, Korar, Zadmalli | 5,281 | |
| 022 | Bhambi, Bhambhi, Asadaru, Asodi, Chamadia, Chamar, Chambhar, Chamgar, Haralayya, Hallar, Khalpa, Madig, Madar Mochigar, Mochi, Muchi, Telugu Mochi, Kamati Mochi, Ravidas, Rohidas, Rohit, Samgar | 6,05,486 | |
| 023 | Bhovi, Od, Voddar, Woddar, Kalluvaddar, Mannuvaddar | 11,19,315 | |
| 024 | Bindla | 149 | |
| 025 | Byagara | 2,019 | |
| 026 | Chakkiliyan | 574 | |
| 027 | Chalavadi, Chalvadi, Chanayya | 2,19,626 | |
| 028 | Chandala | 142 | |
| 029 | Chenna Dassar, Holaya Dassar | 72,003 | |
| 030 | Dakkal, Dokkalwar | 530 | |
| 031 | Dakkaliga | 763 | |
| 032 | Dhor, Kakkayya, Kankayya | 29,199 | |
| 033 | Dombar, Dom, Paidi, Pano | 26,344 | |
| 034 | Ellamalwar, Yellammalawandlu | 108 | |
| 035 | Ghanti Chores | 4,967 | |
| 036 | Garoda, Garo | 170 | |
| 037 | Godda | 1,532 | |
| 038 | Gosangi | 2,219 | |
| 039 | Halleer | 3,533 | |
| 040 | Halsar, Haslar, Hulasvar, Halasvar | 9,695 | |
| 041 | Handi Jogis | 22,675 | |
| 042 | Hasla | 924 | |
| 043 | Holar, Valhar | 1,548 | |
| 044 | Holeya, Holar, Holaya | 7,92,785 | |
| 045 | Holeya Dasari | 382 | |
| 046 | Jaggali | 1,061 | |
| 047 | Jambuvulu | 12,411 | |
| 048 | Kadaiyan | 45 | |
| 049 | Kalladi | 1,774 | |
| 050 | Kepmaris | 19 | |
| 051 | Kolupulvandlu | 1 | |
| 052 | Koosa | 202 | |
| 053 | Koracha, Korachar | 55,148 | |
| 054 | Korama, Korava, Koravar | 2,09,568 | |
| 055 | Kotegar, Metri | 2,370 | |
| 056 | Kudumban | 80 | |
| 057 | Kuruvan | 637 | |
| 058 | Lingader | 76 | |
| 059 | Machala | 244 | |
| 060 | Madari | 1,060 | |
| 061 | Madiga | 9,53,918 | |
| 062 | Mahar, Taral, Dhegumegu | 66,068 | |
| 063 | Mahyavanshi, Dhed, Vankar, Maru Vankar | 63 | |
| 064 | Maila | 1,824 | |
| 065 | Mala | 20,105 | |
| 066 | Mala Dasari | 4,391 | |
| 067 | Mala Hannai | 17 | |
| 068 | Mala Jangam | 28 | |
| 069 | Mala Masti | 5 | |
| 070 | Mala Salle, Netkani | 267 | |
| 071 | Mala Sanyasi | 552 | |
| 072 | Mang, Matang, Minimadig | 26,218 | |
| 073 | Mang Garodi, Mang Garudi | 3,434 | |
| 074 | Manne | 99 | |
| 075 | Masthi | 100 | |
| 076 | Mavilan | 42 | |
| 077 | Meghval, Menghvar | 2,057 | |
| 078 | Moger | 82,807 | |
| 079 | Mukri | 11,501 | |
| 080 | Mandala | 27,417 | |
| 081 | Nadia, Hadi | 1,378 | |
| 082 | Nalakadya | 765 | |
| 083 | Nalakeyeva | 5,942 | |
| 084 | Nayadi | 589 | |
| 085 | Pale | 9,374 | |
| 086 | Pallan | 3,592 | |
| 087 | Pambada | 711 | |
| 088 | Panchama | 450 | |
| 089 | Panniandi | 11 | |
| 090 | Paraiyan, Paraya | 2,418 | |
| 091 | Paravan | 3,528 | |
| 092 | Raneyan | 3,578 | |
| 093 | Samagara | 88,215 | |
| 094 | Samban | 102 | |
| 095 | Sapari | 49 | |
| 096 | Sillekyathas | 35,197 | |
| 097 | Sindhollu, Chindollu | 1,706 | |
| 098 | Sudugadu Siddha | 29,457 | |
| 099 | Thoti | 1,304 | |
| 100 | Tirgar, Tirbanda | 81 | |
| 101 | Valluvan | 1,115 | |
| Generic castes, etc | 7,23,697 | ||
| 1,04,74,992 | |||
References
- 1 2 "District wise scheduled caste population (Appendix), Karnataka - 2011". census.gov.in. Delhi: Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India.
- ↑ "List of Schedule Castes (Karnataka)" (PDF). socialjustice.gov. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- ↑ "Client Challenge". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
- ↑ Sayeed, Vikhar Ahmed (2024-11-25). "Karnataka Internal Reservation Policy for Scheduled Castes: Implementation Challenges and Political Impact". Frontline. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
- ↑ "Karnataka BJP MP denied entry into village in his own constituency for being Dalit". The Times of India. 2019-09-17. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
- ↑ "How Karnatakas SC Sub-classification Fails the Most Backward Nomadic Communities". The Wire. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
- ↑ Nathan, Archana (2018-05-01). "Ground report: Split between left and right, which way will Karnataka's Dalits vote?". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
- ↑ "THE KARNATAKA SCHEDULED CASTES (SUB-CLASSIFICAION) BILL, 2025 (LA Bill No. 89 of 2025)" (PDF). PRSIndia – via Government of Karnataka.
- ↑ Bureau, The Hindu (2025). "Bill on sub-classification of SCs for reservation tabled in Assembly". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
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