**Why Karnataka Government Has Extended School Holidays Till October 18**
*By Snehil Singh | Oct 07, 2025, 05:46 PM*
The Karnataka government has announced an extension of the ongoing Social and Educational Survey, popularly known as the “caste census.” Originally scheduled to conclude on October 7, the survey will now continue till October 19.
This decision follows discussions between the Education Department and the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, which oversees the survey. The extension aims to allow sufficient time for the completion of the exercise, as progress has been slower than expected.
**Survey Progress and Challenges**
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah highlighted uneven progress across districts. While Koppal has completed about 97% of the survey work, districts such as Dakshina Kannada and Udupi have managed only around 60%. “Across the state, the survey has not progressed as per our expectations. It is not possible to complete it within the initial deadline,” he said.
To facilitate the survey’s completion, the government has announced school holidays from October 8 to 18. This move responds to requests from the Teachers’ Association. However, teachers involved in the II PUC midterm exams will be exempt from these holidays.
**Survey Participation and Logistics**
Approximately 1.6 lakh personnel are involved in this exercise, including 1.2 lakh teachers and 40,000 other workers. In Bengaluru alone, around 6,000 to 7,000 teachers and 24,000 other staff members are participating.
To complete the enumeration efficiently, the government has declared eight special holidays in Bengaluru in addition to regular public holidays, totaling 12 days off. Enumerators are expected to cover about 15 households per day.
**Background and Survey Details**
The Social and Educational Survey began on September 22 and is being conducted at an estimated cost of ₹420 crore. It uses a detailed questionnaire consisting of 60 questions to gather comprehensive data.
This is not Karnataka’s first attempt at such a survey. A similar Social and Educational Survey was carried out in 2015 at a cost of ₹165.51 crore but was later discarded.
With the extension of the school holidays and survey timeline, the Karnataka government aims to ensure a thorough and accurate completion of this significant exercise.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/karnataka-schools-revise-timings-for-ongoing-social-and-educational-survey/story
