Karnataka Government Drafts Rules to Restructure 15% Rural Quota in Professional Courses

The Karnataka government has issued draft amendments to the Karnataka Selection of Candidates for Admission to Government Seats in Professional Educational Institutions Rules, 2006, proposing a restructured reservation framework for rural candidates. Under the draft notification issued by the Higher Education Department, the existing 15 per cent rural horizontal reservation in professional courses, such as engineering and medical seats, will be divided into two equal sub-quotas of 7.5 per cent each.

The first 7.5 per cent sub-quota will be reserved exclusively for eligible candidates who completed their schooling from Class 1 to 10 in government schools or government pre-university colleges located in rural areas of Karnataka. The remaining 7.5 per cent will be open to rural candidates who studied in other educational institutions situated in rural areas, including private aided and unaided schools. The state government has invited public objections and suggestions on the proposed rules within 15 days of its publication in the Official Gazette before finalizing the amendments under the Karnataka Educational Institutions Act, 1984.