Scheduled castes in Karnataka

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.

Sub-classification

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 0.253
002 Adi Dravida 7,95,620 7.595
003 Adi Karnataka 29,20,942 27.885
004 Adiya (in Coorg district) 811 0.007
005 Ager 6,642 0.063
006 Ajila 2,448 0.023
007 Anamuk 75 <0.001
008 Aray Mala 94 <0.001
009 Arunthathiyar 2,385 0.023
010 Arwa Mala 260 0.002
011 Baira 4,049 0.039
012 Bakad 808 0.007
013 Bant (in Belagavi, Bijapur, Dharwad and Uttara Kannada districts) 1,390 0.013
014 Bakuda 1,566 0.015
015 Balagai 2,180 0.020
016 Bandi 678 0.006
017 Banjara, Lambadi, Lamadi, Sulagi, Sulagavi 12,67,036 12.095
018 Bathada 2,632 0.025
019 Beda Jangam, Budga Jangam 1,17,164 1.118
020 Bellara 1,243 0.012
021 Bhangi, Mehtar, Olgana, Rukhi, Halalkhor, Lal Begi, Balmiki, Korar, Zadmalli 5,281 0.052
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 5.780
023 Bhovi, Od, Voddar, Woddar, Kalluvaddar, Mannuvaddar 11,19,315 10.685
024 Bindla 149 0.001
025 Byagara 2,019 0.019
026 Chakkiliyan 574 0.005
027 Chalavadi, Chalvadi, Chanayya 2,19,626 2.097
028 Chandala 142 0.001
029 Chenna Dassar, Holaya Dassar 72,003 0.687
030 Dakkal, Dokkalwar 530 0.005
031 Dakkaliga 763 0.007
032 Dhor, Kakkayya, Kankayya 29,199 0.279
033 Dombar, Dom, Paidi, Pano 26,344 0.251
034 Ellamalwar, Yellammalawandlu 108 0.001
035 Ghanti Chores 4,967 0.047
036 Garoda, Garo 170 0.001
037 Godda 1,532 0.015
038 Gosangi 2,219 0.021
039 Halleer 3,533 0.035
040 Halsar, Haslar, Hulasvar, Halasvar 9,695 0.092
041 Handi Jogis 22,675 0.216
042 Hasla 924 0.009
043 Holar, Valhar 1,548 0.015
044 Holeya, Holar, Holaya 7,92,785 7.568
045 Holeya Dasari 382 0.003
046 Jaggali 1,061 0.010
047 Jambuvulu 12,411 0.118
048 Kadaiyan 45 <0.001
049 Kalladi 1,774 0.017
050 Kepmaris 19 <0.001
051 Kolupulvandlu 1 <0.001
052 Koosa 202 0.002
053 Koracha, Korachar 55,148 0.526
054 Korama, Korava, Koravar 2,09,568 2.001
055 Kotegar, Metri 2,370 0.023
056 Kudumban 80 <0.001
057 Kuruvan 637 0.006
058 Lingader 76 <0.001
059 Machala 244 0.002
060 Madari 1,060 0.010
061 Madiga 9,53,918 9.106
062 Mahar, Taral, Dhegumegu 66,068 0.631
063 Mahyavanshi, Dhed, Vankar, Maru Vankar 63 <0.001
064 Maila 1,824 0.018
065 Mala 20,105 0.192
066 Mala Dasari 4,391 0.042
067 Mala Hannai 17 <0.001
068 Mala Jangam 28 <0.001
069 Mala Masti 5 <0.001
070 Mala Salle, Netkani 267 0.002
071 Mala Sanyasi 552 0.005
072 Mang, Matang, Minimadig 26,218 0.250
073 Mang Garodi, Mang Garudi 3,434 0.033
074 Manne 99 <0.001
075 Masthi 100 <0.001
076 Mavilan 42 <0.001
077 Meghval, Menghvar 2,057 0.019
078 Moger 82,807 0.791
079 Mukri 11,501 0.109
080 Mandala 27,417 0.262
081 Nadia, Hadi 1,378 0.013
082 Nalakadya 765 0.007
083 Nalakeyeva 5,942 0.057
084 Nayadi 589 0.005
085 Pale 9,374 0.089
086 Pallan 3,592 0.035
087 Pambada 711 0.006
088 Panchama 450 0.004
089 Panniandi 11 <0.001
090 Paraiyan, Paraya 2,418 0.023
091 Paravan 3,528 0.035
092 Raneyan 3,578 0.035
093 Samagara 88,215 0.842
094 Samban 102 0.001
095 Sapari 49 <0.001
096 Sillekyathas 35,197 0.342
097 Sindhollu, Chindollu 1,706 0.016
098 Sudugadu Siddha 29,457 0.281
099 Thoti 1,304 0.013
100 Tirgar, Tirbanda 81 <0.001
101 Valluvan 1,115 0.011
Generic castes, etc 7,23,697 6.909
1,04,74,992 100.000

Religion-wise

Scheduled Castes Population (2011) Religions[10]
Hinduism Sikhism Buddhism
001 Adi Andhra 26,486 26,448 5 33
002 Adi Dravida 7,95,620 7,95,181 152 287
003 Adi Karnataka 29,20,942 29,18,159 434 2,349
004 Adiya (in Coorg district) 811 810 1 0
005 Ager 6,642 6,642 0 0
006 Ajila 2,448 2,448 0 0
007 Anamuk 75 75 0 0
008 Aray Mala 94 93 1 0
009 Arunthathiyar 2,385 2,383 0 2
010 Arwa Mala 260 260 0 0
011 Baira 4,049 4,048 0 1
012 Bakad 808 808 0 0
013 Bant (in Belagavi, Bijapur, Dharwad and Uttara Kannada districts) 1,390 1,388 2 0
014 Bakuda 1,566 1,566 0 0
015 Balagai 2,180 2,172 0 8
016 Bandi 678 678 0 0
017 Banjara, Lambadi, Lamadi, Sulagi, Sulagavi 12,67,036 12,66,783 182 71
018 Bathada 2,632 2,632 0 0
019 Beda Jangam, Budga Jangam 1,17,164 1,17,138 16 10
020 Bellara 1,243 1,243 0 0
021 Bhangi, Mehtar, Olgana, Rukhi, Halalkhor, Lal Begi, Balmiki, Korar, Zadmalli 5,281 5,259 20 2
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 6,05,104 83 299
023 Bhovi, Od, Voddar, Woddar, Kalluvaddar, Mannuvaddar 11,19,315 11,18,953 143 219
024 Bindla 149 149 0 0
025 Byagara 2,019 2,019 0 0
026 Chakkiliyan 574 574 0 0
027 Chalavadi, Chalvadi, Chanayya 2,19,626 2,17,420 13 1,081
028 Chandala 142 142 0 0
029 Chenna Dassar, Holaya Dassar 72,003 71,973 8 20
030 Dakkal, Dokkalwar 530 530 0 0
031 Dakkaliga 763 762 0 1
032 Dhor, Kakkayya, Kankayya 29,199 29,176 2 21
033 Dombar, Dom, Paidi, Pano 26,344 26,340 3 1
034 Ellamalwar, Yellammalawandlu 108 108 0 0
035 Ghanti Chores 4,967 4,967 0 0
036 Garoda, Garo 170 166 0 4
037 Godda 1,532 1,527 0 5
038 Gosangi 2,219 2,218 1 0
039 Halleer 3,533 3,533 0 0
040 Halsar, Haslar, Hulasvar, Halasvar 9,695 9,694 0 1
041 Handi Jogis 22,675 22,671 3 1
042 Hasla 924 924 0 0
043 Holar, Valhar 1,548 1,534 0 14
044 Holeya, Holar, Holaya 7,92,785 7,55,266 161 37,358
045 Holeya Dasari 382 382 0 0
046 Jaggali 1,061 1,061 0 0
047 Jambuvulu 12,411 12,407 2 2
048 Kadaiyan 45 45 0 0
049 Kalladi 1,774 1,774 0 0
050 Kepmaris 19 19 0 0
051 Kolupulvandlu 1 1 0 0
052 Koosa 202 202 0 0
053 Koracha, Korachar 55,148 55,133 10 5
054 Korama, Korava, Koravar 2,09,568 2,09,524 27 17
055 Kotegar, Metri 2,370 2,370 0 0
056 Kudumban 80 80 0 0
057 Kuruvan 637 637 0 0
058 Lingader 76 76 0 0
059 Machala 244 244 0 0
060 Madari 1,060 1,060 0 0
061 Madiga 9,53,918 9,52,717 200 996
062 Mahar, Taral, Dhegumegu 66,068 60,348 19 5,701
063 Mahyavanshi, Dhed, Vankar, Maru Vankar 63 61 0 2
064 Maila 1,824 1,824 0 0
065 Mala 20,105 20,050 13 42
066 Mala Dasari 4,391 4,390 1 0
067 Mala Hannai 17 17 0 0
068 Mala Jangam 28 28 0 0
069 Mala Masti 5 5 0 0
070 Mala Salle, Netkani 267 267 0 0
071 Mala Sanyasi 552 552 0 0
072 Mang, Matang, Minimadig 26,218 26,108 5 105
073 Mang Garodi, Mang Garudi 3,434 3,434 0 0
074 Manne 99 99 0 0
075 Masthi 100 100 0 0
076 Mavilan 42 42 0 0
077 Meghval, Menghvar 2,057 2,056 0 1
078 Moger 82,807 82,760 3 44
079 Mukri 11,501 11,501 0 0
080 Mandala 27,417 27,403 1 13
081 Nadia, Hadi 1,378 1,378 0 1
082 Nalakadya 765 765 0 0
083 Nalakeyeva 5,942 5,942 0 0
084 Nayadi 589 589 0 0
085 Pale 9,374 9,374 2 0
086 Pallan 3,592 3,591 0 1
087 Pambada 711 711 0 0
088 Panchama 450 450 0 0
089 Panniandi 11 11 0 0
090 Paraiyan, Paraya 2,418 2,418 0 0
091 Paravan 3,528 3,528 0 0
092 Raneyan 3,578 3,578 0 0
093 Samagara 88,215 88,165 24 26
094 Samban 102 102 0 0
095 Sapari 49 49 0 0
096 Sillekyathas 35,197 35,190 6 1
097 Sindhollu, Chindollu 1,706 1,706 0 0
098 Sudugadu Siddha 29,457 29,449 8 0
099 Thoti 1,304 1,304 0 0
100 Tirgar, Tirbanda 81 81 0 0
101 Valluvan 1,115 1,115 0 0
Generic castes, etc 7,23,697 7,19,102 531 4,064
1,04,74,992 1,04,18,989 2,100 53,903

District wise

References

  1. 1 2 "District wise scheduled caste population (Appendix), Karnataka - 2011". census.gov.in. Delhi: Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India.
  2. ↑ "List of Schedule Castes (Karnataka)" (PDF). socialjustice.gov. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
  3. ↑ "Caste List". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
  4. ↑ Sayeed, Vikhar Ahmed (2024-11-25). "Karnataka Internal Reservation Policy for Scheduled Castes: Implementation Challenges and Political Impact". Frontline. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ "How Karnatakas SC Sub-classification Fails the Most Backward Nomadic Communities". The Wire. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "THE KARNATAKA SCHEDULED CASTES (SUB-CLASSIFICAION) BILL, 2025 (LA Bill No. 89 of 2025)" (PDF). PRSIndia – via Government of Karnataka.
  9. ↑ "Bill on sub-classification of SCs for reservation tabled in Assembly". The Hindu. 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
  10. ↑ "Scheduled caste population by religious community, Karnataka". censusindia. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  11. ↑ "List of districts of Karnataka".
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