This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 236, dated July 22, 2025, regarding the potential inclusion of the Kudubi Samaja community in the Scheduled Castes (SC) list. The response, provided by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Ramdas Athawale, clarifies the process for modifying the SC list, which requires a proposal initiated by the concerned State/Union Territory government, including a comprehensive ethnographic study. The Ministry confirms that as of July 22, 2025, no such recommendation or proposal for the inclusion of the Kudubi Samaja community has been received from the Government of Karnataka. Therefore, no action has been taken to include the Kudubi Samaja in the SC list. The response refers to Article 341 of the Constitution of India, which governs the notification of Scheduled Castes.
Key Entities Referenced
Kudubi Samaja: A community in India seeking inclusion in the Scheduled Castes list.
Scheduled Castes (SC): A list of historically disadvantaged communities recognized by the Constitution of India.
Government of Karnataka: The state government that is expected to initiate the proposal for inclusion of Kudubi Samaja in the Scheduled Castes list.
Article 341 of the Constitution of India: The constitutional article that governs the notification of Scheduled Castes.
Act of Parliament: The legal instrument required for any subsequent modification to the Scheduled Castes list.
Scheduled Tribes (ST): A list of historically disadvantaged tribal communities recognized by the Constitution of India. Mentioned in relation to modifications in lists.
SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA: Member of Parliament who raised the question regarding the inclusion of Kudubi Samaja in the SC list.
SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE: Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment who provided the answer to the parliamentary question.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.236
TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2025
INCLUSION OF KUDUBI SAMAJA IN THE SC/ST LIST
236. SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has received any proposal or recommendation from the Government
of Karnataka for inclusion of the Kudubi Samaja community under the Scheduled Castes list;
(b) if so, the current status of such proposal and the action taken thereon;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any study or consultation regarding the social and
economic conditions of the Kudubi Samaja; and
(d) whether the Government has any proposal to consider the inclusion of the Kudubi Samaja
under the SC list and if so, the time by which it is likely to be included?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)
(a) to (d): Scheduled Castes are notified under the provisions of Article 341 of the Constitution
of India. First list of Scheduled Castes in relation to a State or Union Territory is by a notified
Order of the President. Any subsequent modification therein can be made only by an Act of
Parliament. For inclusion in or exclusion from and other modifications in the lists of Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes, a complete proposal with ethnographic study, to modify the
existing list of Scheduled Castes is to be initiated by the concerned State/ Union Territory. No
recommendation has been received from the Government of Karnataka for inclusion of Kudubi
Samaja community in the list of Scheduled Castes.
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