The Independent Expert Working Group (IEWG) has completed a detailed study of the Telangana State Government’s SEEEPC survey, often called the Caste Survey. They are preparing to submit their findings soon.
This report, led by Retired Justice B Sudarshan Reddy, offers a unique way to understand socio-economic backwardness. It introduces a Composite Backwardness Index (CBI), which gives each of the 242 castes a score and rank based on their status.
Currently, the report is being finalized for submission. The group has informed Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka about their progress and is seeking a meeting to officially present their findings. During a press conference at the MCR HRD institute, Convenor Praveen Chakravarthy and Vice Chairman Kancha Ilaiah detailed the CBI’s role in measuring each caste’s backwardness relative to others.
They explained, “This statistical method objectively ranks all 242 castes based on backwardness using data from the caste census.” The IEWG, responsible for examining the SEEEPC Survey data collected in late 2024 by the Telangana Government, includes experts like Prof Shantha Sinha, Dr Sukhadeo Thorat, Dr Himanshu, Nikhil Dey, Prof Bhangya Bhukya, Prof K Purushottam Reddy, Sandeep Kumar Sultania (Principal Secretary Planning and Finance), and Anudeep Durishetty (Secretary to the IEWG).
