Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on October 7 announced a 10-day holiday for all government and government-aided schools across the state, from October 8 to October 18, 2025.

The decision comes as the ongoing statewide social and educational survey, widely referred to as the 'caste survey', faces delays in several districts.

Originally scheduled to conclude on October 7, the survey’s timeline has now been extended to ensure comprehensive data collection. “We were supposed to end the survey on October 7.

But in some districts, it is nearly complete, while in others it is lagging,” Siddaramaiah told reporters following a meeting with ministers and officials. “The extension will allow us to achieve 100 percent coverage across the state.”

Updates on district-level progress reveal a stark contrast: Koppal leads with 97% completion, while Udupi and Dakshina Kannada lag at 63% and 60%, respectively.

The chief minister also announced a compensation of Rs ₹20lakh each for three survey staff members who died while on duty. He assured that teachers engaged in mid-term examinations will be exempt from survey duties, preventing any disruption to ongoing academic schedules.

Amid political tensions, Siddaramaiah clarified that he has no stance on the Lingayat community’s demand for separate religious status. His remarks come amid opposition criticism, with the BJP accusing the government of attempting to divide the Hindu community.

As part of the survey, every household in Karnataka will be geo-tagged using electricity meter numbers and assigned a Unique Household ID (UHID). These IDs will enable the government to maintain detailed digital records of all households.

Citizens’ ration cards and Aadhaar details will be linked to mobile numbers to facilitate the process.

To accommodate those away from home during data collection, the government has set up a helpline at 8050770004. Residents can also participate online or report grievances through the same system.