The Telangana government on Wednesday released data from its Socio-Economic and Educational Population Census (SEEPC), offering a detailed breakdown of the state’s population by social categories. The report highlights the dominance of Backward Classes and provides key insights into the Muslim population distribution.
According to the data, the total population of Telangana stands at 3,54,77,554. Among the various social groups, Backward Classes (BC), excluding Muslim minorities, form the largest segment at 46.25%, totaling over 1.64 crore individuals.
Scheduled Castes (SC) account for 17.43% of the population, with 61.84 lakh individuals. Scheduled Tribes (ST) make up 10.45%, totaling 37.05 lakh people. The Open Category (OC) represents 15.79% of the population, with over 56 lakh individuals.
The Muslim minority population constitutes 12.56% of the state’s total population, amounting to 44.57 lakh people. A significant majority of Muslims are classified under the Backward Classes (BC-E category), accounting for 10.08% of the population. Meanwhile, 2.48% of Muslims fall under the Open Category.
Within the BC-E category, the Shaik/Sheikh community emerges as the largest group, with over 27.87 lakh individuals. Other Muslim communities such as Qureshi, Dhobi Muslims, and Fakirs are also included in this category but in smaller proportions.
Additionally, some Muslim groups are categorized under other BC segments. For instance, Dudekula and related communities fall under BC-B, while Mehtar Muslims are listed under BC-A. Muslims outside BC-E are included in the Open Category.
The report also provides district-level insights. For example, in Adilabad district, the Shaik/Sheikh community forms a significant portion of the BC population, while Muslims in the OC category also have a notable presence.
Overall, the census data highlights that Backward Classes, including BC Muslims, form the majority in Telangana. The findings are expected to play a crucial role in shaping future policy decisions, welfare schemes, and reservation frameworks in the state.
Mohammed Naseer Giyas is a multi-media and bilingual journalist with over 20 years of experience across print, digital, and television media. Founder of Raftaar-e-Deccan, he is an alumnus of IVLP, Thomson Reuters Foundation, and ICFJ, and has worked with leading English and Urdu news organisations.
