Prelims pointers
Education and Employment Reservation in Karnataka
1. Constitutional and Legislative Framework:
- Governed under Article 15(4) and 16(4) of the Indian Constitution for education and employment reservation, respectively.
- Karnataka's SC/ST and OBC Act, 1990 specifically addresses reservation policies in both fields.
- Karnataka Education Act, 1983: Mandates reservation for backward classes, SC/STs in educational institutions.
2. Reservation in Education:
- Government Educational Institutions:
- 17% reservation for SCs.
- 7% reservation for STs.
- 32% reservation for OBCs.
- 10% reservation for EWS introduced under the 103rd Constitutional Amendment.
- Professional Courses:
- Medical, engineering, and other professional courses have specific seat allocations for reserved categories.
- Karnataka implements reservations under the Common Entrance Test (CET) system.
3. Reservation in Public Employment:
- State Government Jobs:
- SC: 17%, ST: 7%, OBC: 32%.
- Karnataka allows reservations in promotions for SC/ST under Article 16(4A).
- Horizontal Reservation:
- Special provisions for women, persons with disabilities (PwD), ex-servicemen, and Kannada-medium students.
4. Current Affairs (Developments):
- Increased SC/ST Reservation (2023): Karnataka enhanced SC and ST quotas in education and employment (SC: 15% → 17%, ST: 3% → 7%).
- Introduction of EWS Quota (2022): 10% reservation for economically weaker sections in education and government jobs.
- New OBC Categorization (2023): Reclassified Vokkaligas and Lingayats into new ‘2C’ and ‘2D’ subcategories, impacting CET seat allocations.
- Private Sector Reservation Proposal (2023): Discussions initiated for introducing reservation for SC/ST/OBC in private sector employment.
- Skill Development Schemes: Karnataka launched the "Skill Connect Portal" to improve employability of reserved category youths.
5. Key Challenges:
- Implementation Issues: Delays in filling reserved vacancies in state services and professional courses.
- Merit vs Reservation Debate: Concerns raised about maintaining academic standards in professional courses.
- Inter-Caste Inequalities: Disparities within reserved categories lead to demands for internal reservations.
- General Category Opposition: Resentment against reduced opportunities in government jobs and educational institutions.
6. Recent Schemes and Initiatives:
- Arivu Scheme: Provides educational loans for backward class students pursuing higher education.
- Ganga Kalyana Scheme: Focuses on improving socio-economic conditions of SC/ST students.
- Scholarships for OBC and SC/ST students to access private educational institutions.
UPSC Mains-style answers (~300 words)
4. Education and Employment Reservation in Karnataka
Karnataka has been a pioneer in implementing reservations in education and employment to uplift backward classes, SCs, and STs. The Karnataka SC/ST and OBC Act, 1990 ensures equitable representation in these sectors.
Education Reservation:
- Reserved seats in government and aided educational institutions for SCs, STs, and OBCs.
- Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) schemes to encourage higher education.
- Initiatives like Vidya Siri Scheme and free coaching for competitive exams benefit backward classes.
Employment Reservation:
- Reservation of 15% for SCs, 3% for STs, and 32% for OBCs in state government jobs.
- Priority is given to backward class candidates in local recruitment drives under Panchayat Raj.
Current Developments (2024):
- Karnataka’s emphasis on skill development through Kaushalya Karnataka and free coaching for backward class students aspiring for IAS/IPS and other competitive exams.
- The government's move to provide reservations for specific communities within OBCs (e.g., Panchamasali Lingayats) sparked debates about resource allocation.
Challenges:
- Underrepresentation in higher positions despite reservations.
- Poor awareness among backward class communities about opportunities and rights.
- Politicization of reservation demands, creating societal tensions.
Way Forward:
- Improved outreach programs to raise awareness about educational and employment opportunities.
- Implementation of targeted skill-building programs to enhance employability.
- Regular reviews of reservation policies to adapt to socio-economic changes.
