Published Apr 24, 2026 | 8:37 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 24, 2026 | 8:37 PM
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Synopsis: The Karnataka Cabinet has approved a new internal reservation formula within the 15 percent quota for Scheduled Castes, dividing it among SC Left, SC Right and other groups. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said recruitment for government posts would begin immediately.
After several delays, the Karnataka government on Friday, 24 April decided on the internal reservation framework within the overall 15 percent quota for Scheduled Castes.
Under the new formula, 5.25 percent has been reserved for SC Left communities, 5.25 percent for SC Right communities and 4.5 percent for others, including nomadic communities.
Briefing reporters after a Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the state government had originally intended to provide 17 percent reservation for SCs and seven percent for Scheduled Tribes. However, due to a court order, it has been reduced to 15 percent for SCs and three percent for STs.
“From tomorrow onwards, the recruitment process will begin with the issuance of notifications,” the Chief Minister said. Aspirants for government jobs have alleged that recruitment has been halted since November 2024.
The ruling Congress had promised internal reservation for SC communities in its 2023 election manifesto.
ಇಂದು ನನ್ನ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ವಿಶೇಷ ಸಚಿವ ಸಂಪುಟ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಳ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ಹಂಚಿಕೆಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಸರ್ವಾನುಮತದ ನಿರ್ಣಯ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗಿದೆ. #SocialJustice pic.twitter.com/z1ADTGzuQt
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 24, 2026
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Departure from Nagmohan Das Commission’s report
The Nagmohan Justice Das Commission had submitted its detailed report on internal reservation in August last year.
The report, which came after a caste-wise survey conducted across the state between 5 May and 6 July 2025, recommended internal quotas within the overall 17 percent quota for SCs, based on the respective population of each group: 6 percent for SC Left, 5 percent for SC Right, 4 percent for touchable castes, 1 percent for small castes and 1 percent for nomadic castes.
The government, which made some alterations to the Commission’s recommendations, tabled a Bill to formalise the reservation matrix in the winter session of the state legislature in December.
The Karnataka Scheduled Castes (Sub-Categorisation) Bill, 2025, divided internal reservation among 101 communities: 6 percent for SC Left, 6 percent for SC Right and 5 percent for touchable communities.
Although Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot gave his assent to the Bill in February 2026, the Karnataka High Court had earlier, in October 2025, restrained the state government from making recruitment based on the agreed-upon internal reservation matrix.
Pressure from SC groups
While the state government was yet to decide on internal reservation, it initiated the recruitment process for 56,432 posts in March 2026.
The recruitment notification, however, capped the overall reservation at 50 percent — without any mention of internal reservation. The move sparked immediate backlash from SC Left communities, who have been holding protests demanding the implementation of their long-time demand.
Several SC Left leaders within the Cabinet as well, including KH Muniyappa and RB Timmapur, have been holding meetings with Siddaramaiah, urging him to implement internal reservation within the existing 15 percent cap for SCs while recruiting for jobs.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
