Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy and his wife, Sudha Murty, have opted out of the Karnataka government's ongoing socio-economic and caste survey. The couple, when approached by survey enumerators at their residence in Jayanagar, stated that they do not belong to any backward category and believe their participation would not contribute valuable data to the government. They submitted a written declaration on the survey form, confirming their decision not to participate.

The survey, designed by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, aims to collect detailed socio-economic data through 60 primary questions and 20 sub-questions. However, it has faced challenges since its launch in Bengaluru. Many residents have reported feeling pressured to participate, with some alleging that enumerators insisted on their involvement, citing potential salary cuts for teachers involved in the survey. One resident from Hebbal expressed discomfort, saying, "They came to my home, but I didn’t want to answer. The teacher insisted and said her salary might be cut if I refused. It felt like emotional pressure."

Officials have stated that the survey is intended to gather critical information to inform social, educational, and political policies in Karnataka. However, the lengthy questionnaire has been criticized for being too time-consuming, even by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who participated on the first day. He remarked, "There are too many questions. I’ve told officials to simplify it — people in cities don’t have the patience for such long forms."

In response to the couple's decision, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar clarified that participation in the survey is voluntary. The Karnataka High Court has also intervened, ruling that the survey is not mandatory and that surveyors cannot compel residents for information. The court emphasized that the collected data must remain confidential and accessible only to the Backward Classes Commission, underlining the survey's purpose to benefit backward classes without infringing on citizens' rights.

As of now, approximately 15.42 lakh households have been surveyed in Bengaluru, but only about 25% of the questions have been answered. The deadline for completing the survey may be extended to October 27 due to the slow progress.