Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has initiated a significant policy shift, proposing a dedicated 7.5 percent reservation for students from rural government schools in admissions to professional educational institutions, including engineering colleges. The Department of Higher Education formally released a draft notification on Monday, outlining amendments to the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Admission) (Amendment) Rules, 2026, which primarily restructures the existing 15 percent rural quota.
Under this revised framework, 7.5 percent of government-quota seats will now be earmarked exclusively for eligible candidates who have completed their schooling in government institutions located in rural areas. The remaining 7.5 percent of the rural quota will continue to serve eligible students from other educational institutions, including private schools, situated in rural Karnataka.
Authorities state this initiative seeks to provide greater access to professional education for students from economically weaker and rural backgrounds. To qualify for this specific 7.5 percent reservation, rural candidates must have studied from Class 1 to Class 10 in government schools or government pre-university colleges operating under the School Education Department within rural parts of Karnataka.
This initiative forms part of broader revisions governing candidate selection for government seats in the state's professional educational institutions. Public input is now being sought on these draft rules. Interested parties can submit their suggestions and objections in writing to the Secretary, Department of Higher Education, MS Building, Dr BR Ambedkar Veedhi, Bengaluru-560001, within 15 days from the notification's publication date. Officials will review all submissions before finalising and implementing the rules.
This formal proposal for professional course admissions translates an earlier commitment made by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. While launching the Praja Seva Abhiyan at Kudligi in Vijayanagara district, the Chief Minister had articulated the government's intention to provide 7.5 percent reservation in both education and employment for government school students, aiming to bolster opportunities for economically disadvantaged and rural children. The current draft focuses specifically on the education component of that broader announcement. This move could significantly benefit students from rural government schools competing for professional course seats.
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đź“° Source: Siasat Gulf