Online applications to join the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have surged across India, with Karnataka witnessing an exponential rise, according to sources familiar with the details.

A senior RSS functionary, requesting anonymity, said, “The number of requests received in October from Karnataka was 5,252, nearly six times the 765 applications received in the same month last year. This surge is part of a broader national trend, with 48,980 applications submitted across the country in October alone, up from an average of around 100,000 applications per month in recent years.”

The functionary attributed the increase to both the organisation’s centenary celebrations and its ongoing outreach programmes, which have reportedly sparked curiosity among the youth. “Simultaneously, vehement opposition and criticism tend to make the Sangh more visible, leading to a rise in requests to join,” the official said.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also commented on the trend during a lecture series in Bengaluru marking the Sangh’s centenary. He said that criticism often enhances the organisation’s popularity, citing Karnataka as a prime example.

The RSS, founded in 1925, allows individuals to join either through local Shakhas (units) or by submitting online applications. The online enrolment system, introduced in 2012, has seen steady growth: 1,250 applications in 2012, rising to 5,220 in 2014. Earlier peaks include 27,871 applications in March 2017 and 36,242 in September this year.

However, the surge has drawn scrutiny from the Karnataka Congress-led government. IT Minister Priyank Khargequestioned the figures, claiming that the RSS website states there is no formal enrolment, and demanded clarity on the identities of volunteers and their contributions. “They seem to be contradicting themselves because the RSS’ website says that there is no formal enrolment. Now they are claiming to be six times or 10 times more, so we want to know exactly these details,” Kharge said.

Despite the political scrutiny, the RSS appears to be experiencing organic growth nationwide, with Karnataka emerging as a focal point amid ongoing debates over the organisation’s activities in the state.