KEA implements internal reservation in allotment of seats for PG Medical and PG AYUSH courses

For the first time since the implementation of internal reservation among Scheduled Castes (SCs) in the State, the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has taken steps to allocate seats for postgraduate (PG) Medical and AYUSH courses based on internal reservation.

Following the H.N. Nagamohan Das report being submitted to the government on August 4, 2025, the State Cabinet accepted the report with modifications and issued an order to implement internal reservation among SCs grouping the communities into three categories – Category A (16 castes, 6%), Category B (19 castes, 6%), and Category C (63 castes, 5%).

However, its implementation was delayed due to the non-distribution of caste certificates with the subgroups mentioned, denying opportunities for aspirants for government jobs and admission to educational institutions. The Hindu had reported on the same on October 4, 2025, following which the government had ordered on October 8, 2025, to issue caste certificates reflecting the category of the SCs the candidate belongs to.

SC candidates were advised by KEA to obtain (SC-A, SC-B, SC-C) caste certificates containing internal reservation details with Revenue Document (RD) number printed from their respective tahsildars and submit them by November 26.

By the end of Wednesday, a total of 883 SC candidates have submitted caste certificates with their subgroups clearly mentioned for admission to PG Medical and PG AYUSH courses. A total of 777 students have applied for PG medical courses – SC-A (184 candidates), SC-B (331 candidates), and SC-C (262 candidates), and 106 candidates – SC-A (31 candidates), SC-B (34 candidates), and SC-C (41 candidates) – have applied for PG AYUSH courses. 

“For the first time after the government order implementing internal reservation, we have taken steps to allocate seats for PG Medical and PG AYUSH courses under internal reservation. As many students complained that they were yet to get caste certificates reflecting the SC subgroup from tahsildars, we had extended the time to submit the same to implement internal reservation in seat allotment,” said H. Prasanna, Executive Director, KEA. 

Mr. Prasanna further said that internal reservation was also implemented during the recently held Karnataka State Eligibility Test (KSET) exams. “We have also issued notification for recruitment for nine other departments, in all of which we have implemented internal reservation,” he said.