H.K. Patil
| Photo Credit: file photo
The much-delayed recruitment process for government jobs is set to kick-start in Karnataka again, with the State Cabinet on Thursday deciding that the notication will be issued within the next 30 days to fill 56,432 posts across departments.
The notifications will come for 50% (32% for OBC, 15% for SCs and 3% for SCs) reservation matrix instead of 56% (32%, 17%, 7%) to avoid legal hurdles.
The recent massive protests by unemployed youth in Dharwad was over delayed recruitments, which had left the government embarrassed and given a handle to the Opposition to criticise the ruling Congress on not meeting an important electoral promise.
While the Finance Department has already provided approval for 24,300 posts, new notifications will come for 32,132 posts under 371 (J) of the Constitution.
Law and Parliament Affairs Minister H.K. Patil, who briefed the media, said that the notifications will spell out details on internal reservation within the 15% quota for Scheduled Castes instead of 17% with 6:6:5 ratio as approved by the State government.
Though Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot earlier in the day had given assent to The Karnataka Scheduled Castes (Sub-Classification) Bill, 2025, which pegs SC reservation at 17% and allows internal quota, the Cabinet decided to stick to the original 15%.
When asked about the contradiction of the government sticking to 15% though assent was given for 17% quota, he Mr. Patil said, “Keeping in view the court judgment we will see how to go about internal reservation”.
Asked if the government would hike reservation if the court verdict goes in favour of breaching the 50% ceiling, Mr. Patil said that adequate provisions will be made in the notificaiton to allow for this. The notification will have a clause that will allow for refitting the matrix to allow for additional 3% to SCs and 4% STs if the courts favour quota hike in the future, he said.
Earlier in the day, a delegation of seven Karnataka Ministers met the Governor demanding early assent to the Bill that provides legislation cover to internal reservation within the 17 % reservation for 101 Scheduled Castes in Karnataka. The government had given clarifications sought by the Governor regarding the quota break-up.
Mr. Patil said that two Bills — the Karnataka Rohith Vemula (Protection of SC/STs from Caste Discrimination in Higher Educational Institutions) Bill, 2025, and The Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the Name of Honour and Tradition Bill, 2026, had been referred to the Home Department for its opinion.
The Cabinet also gave approval for the Cauvery VI Stage to supply water to satellite towns of Hoskote, Nelamangala, Devanahalli, and Vijayapura among other places at a cost of ₹6,939 crore.
Published – February 26, 2026 10:18 pm IST
