On September 7, 2026, the Karnataka state government introduced draft rules to provide a 15 percent reservation in government seats for rural students in professional courses. This decision is aimed at candidates who completed their primary and secondary education in rural government schools to help reduce educational disparities and give underdeveloped regions better access to technical and medical higher education. The draft notification includes specific eligibility criteria, such as mandatory years of schooling in designated rural institutions, to prevent misuse.
Public feedback and objections will be collected in the coming weeks before the final gazette notification. Rural education advocates have supported the policy, while representatives from urban institutions have requested clear guidelines to ensure transparency and meritocracy. State higher education officials confirmed that the reservation will apply to engineering, medical, and agricultural degree programs at public universities.
Administrators are currently reviewing seat matrices to ensure seamless implementation ahead of the upcoming legislative session, where educational reforms are scheduled for discussion. If finalized on schedule, the reservation framework is expected to take effect during the next academic admission cycle.