Analyzing Telangana's Caste Dynamics: Insights from SEEEPC Survey 2024

An expert group has released findings from the Telangana caste survey conducted by the state’s Congress government in 2024-25, which will likely stir policy discussions. The report states that 135 of a total of 242 castes in the region exhibit levels of backwardness exceeding the state average, according to the Comprehensive Backwardness Index (CBI).

Led by former Supreme Court judge Justice B Sudershan Reddy, the Independent Expert Working Group (IEWG) noted substantial disparities among different communities. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes show backwardness three times greater than General Castes. The extensive SEEEPC survey also ranks communities like Madiga, Shaik Muslim, and Mudiraj among the largest and most backward in Telangana.

The IEWG, appointed in March 2025, was tasked with verifying the SEEEPC's data and uncovering key trends. Their findings underscore a significant socio-economic divide, with Backward Classes rating 2.7 times more backward than General Castes. The report aims to fuel a nuanced understanding of socio-economic disparity within the state.