In a bid to remove confusion over implementation of internal reservation among the 101 Scheduled Castes (SCs) in the State in public education and employment, the Karnataka government on Wednesday issued guidelines for issuing fresh caste certificates to enable them to secure reservation benefits.
The circular assumes importance as the recruitment process that had been frozen had restarted, but confusion on caste certificates had hindered it.
While the government modified the recommendations of the commission headed by retired judge H.N. Nagamohan Das to slice up the 17% reservation for SCs into three categories, the confusion over the status of Adi Andhras, Adi Karnatakas, and Adi Dravidas persisted.
The government provided 6% to category A for Madigas and 16 related castes, 6% to category B for Holeyas and 19 castes, and 5% for 73 castes in category C.
The AA, AK, and AD category, with a population of about 4.7 lakh, which had been provided 1% reservation by the commission was to be equally split between Category A and Category B.
One-time choice
Significantly, the circular on Wednesday allowed the AA, AK, and AD population to have a one-time choice between Category A and Category B.
Despite providing option to enumerate themselves with their original castes, about 4.7 lakh identified themselves in these three colonial-era caste nomenclature. They have to provide an affidavit in this regard.
Those who have AD, AK, and AA certificates but know their original castes should also apply with their original castes and category to secure the caste certificates.
Basavaraj Kowthal, convener of the Forum for Social Justice in Internal Reservation for Scheduled Castes, said that an estimated population of about 44 lakh have AD, AA, and AK certificates.
Where to apply
People belonging to 98 castes can spell out their castes and category to which these belong to and secure caste certificates at Atalji Kendras.
The certificates will be issued after verification under the Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (Reservation in recruitment and others) Act, 1990, amended in 2024 and 1992 rules.
Mr. Kowthal, who attended a meeting with officials on Tuesday, said that internal reservation in the election to local bodies would also be notified shortly along with apportionment of financial resources under SCSP/ TSP.
Published – October 09, 2025 12:05 am IST
