10-Day School Holiday Alert! Karnataka Schools Closed Till October 18 Due to Statewide Caste Survey

Students across Karnataka are in for an unexpected break, as the Karnataka government has officially declared a 10-day holiday for all government and government-aided schools from October 8 to October 18th for the completion of the ongoing Karnataka caste survey, which is the Socioeconomic and Educational Survey.

Why the 10-Day School Holiday Was Announced

The school holiday was announced temporarily after it was observed that progress on the caste survey was going on a different track in different districts. across Karnataka. While some districts such as Koppal have reported nearly 97% completion, others like Udupi and Dakshina Kannada are still lagging behind at around 60-63% progress only.

As per a report from PTI, the Karnataka caste survey, which is being conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, began on September 22 and was initially expected to conclude by October 7. However, after the requests from the teachers' associations, the government extended the survey timeline to allow teachers to have more time to complete the process.

Teachers who are currently handling mid-term examinations have been exempted from survey duties to make sure that the ongoing exams are not affected. Meanwhile, the state government has also announced a compensation of Rs. 20 lakh each for the families of three staff members who lost their lives during the survey process.

No School Holiday for Private Schools

Importantly, the 10-day school holiday in Karnataka will be applied only to government and government-aided institutions. Private schools and colleges will continue to operate as usual.

About the Karnataka Caste Survey

The Karnataka caste survey, officially called the Socioeconomic and Educational Survey, is being conducted to collect comprehensive data on caste, income, and educational status of residents across the state. The Karnataka Caste Survey will provide data which is expected to be important in policy-making, reservation allocation, and welfare planning for socially and economically backward communities across the state.

The government has stressed that the temporary closure of schools will help ensure accuracy and completeness of data collection, as teachers form a major part of the on-ground survey team.

Upcoming School Holidays in Karnataka

Apart from this 10-day school holiday, students in Karnataka will also get to enjoy Diwali holidays, which are scheduled on 20th October 2025. Schools across the state will remain closed for several days during the festive period. These school holidays come as a welcome break before the start of the second-term academic schedule, giving students time to relax, recharge, and prepare for the upcoming examinations.