Bengaluru, August 27, 2026: The Karnataka government has constituted a five-member Cabinet Sub-Committee on Student Issues and Education Reforms to examine the challenges faced by students across the state and recommend measures to strengthen the education system.

The committee, formed following a Cabinet decision on August 21, will be headed by Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader. It has been given one month to submit its report to the government.

Five-member panel to examine key education issues

The Cabinet Sub-Committee comprises:

• U T Khader – Health and Family Welfare Minister – Chairperson
• Basavaraj Rayareddy – Higher Education Minister
• Priyank Kharge – Home, IT & BT and E-Governance Minister
• Sharan Prakash Patil – Medical Education and Skill Development Minister
• Madhu Bangarappa – School Education Minister

The Higher Education Department will function as the nodal department for the committee.

Six major areas under review

The committee has been asked to examine six broad areas covering examinations, education costs, infrastructure, employment, student wellbeing and access to education.

1. Preventing question paper leaks and exam malpractice

One of the most significant areas of focus will be examination integrity.

The committee will examine measures to prevent question paper leaks, malpractice and other irregularities in examinations and recruitment processes. It will also look at improving transparency, fairness and accountability in state-level examinations.

A fixed and time-bound examination and recruitment calendar is also among the proposed areas of review.

For students, greater predictability in examination and recruitment schedules could help reduce uncertainty and improve preparation planning.

2. Regulation of education fees and coaching centres

The panel will also examine the rising cost of education, including fees charged by private educational institutions.

It will consider possible measures to regulate private education fees and strengthen oversight of coaching centres, with the broader objective of reducing the financial burden on students and their families.

This could become particularly significant for families paying for private schools, professional courses and competitive-examination coaching.

3. Improving government schools, PU colleges and universities

Infrastructure and education quality in public institutions will also come under scrutiny.

The committee will examine issues such as:

• Teacher vacancies
• Laboratories
• Libraries
• Hostels
• Other essential infrastructure
• Overall quality of government schools, PU colleges and universities

The objective is to identify gaps and recommend measures to strengthen public education infrastructure across Karnataka.

4. Education, skills and employment

The committee will also look at whether existing curricula are adequately aligned with emerging employment opportunities and industry requirements.

Among the areas under consideration are greater emphasis on:

• Skill development
• Apprenticeships
• Internships
• Industry partnerships
• Employment-oriented curricula

The move indicates an attempt to make education more closely connected with the skills students need for the changing job market.

5. Student mental health and academic stress

Student mental health and wellbeing have been specifically included in the committee’s terms of reference.

The panel will examine ways to strengthen counselling and student-support systems and address academic and examination-related stress.

It will also consider suicide-prevention measures, particularly in coaching hubs, hostels and residential educational institutions.

The inclusion of mental health in the committee’s mandate makes student wellbeing an important component of the proposed education reforms.

6. Scholarships, hostels and equal access

The final area concerns access and equity in education.

The committee will examine ways to strengthen scholarships and financial assistance, expand hostel facilities and promote girls’ education.

It will also consider support mechanisms for students from SC/ST, OBC, minority and first-generation learner communities.

Students, parents and teachers to be consulted

The committee is expected to conduct wider consultations with students, parents, teachers, educational institutions and other stakeholders across Karnataka.

It may also seek assistance from subject experts while examining specific education-related issues.

The consultation process could provide an opportunity for concerns at the ground level to be incorporated into the government’s eventual reform proposals.

Government seeks a more student-focused education system

The formation of the committee comes at a time when issues such as examination integrity, education costs, infrastructure gaps, student stress and employability are receiving increasing attention.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the aspirations of young people would shape the state’s future and stressed the need for an education system that provides students with knowledge, skills and opportunities. He said the committee would engage with students, understand their experiences and aspirations, and recommend reforms addressing their challenges.

With the panel required to submit its report within a month, its recommendations could potentially shape education-policy decisions affecting school students, PU students, college students, competitive-examination aspirants and families across Karnataka.

What students and parents should watch for

The committee’s recommendations could have implications for several areas of education, including:

• Examination and recruitment schedules
• Measures against question paper leaks
• Private education fees
• Coaching-centre regulation
• Government school infrastructure
• Teacher vacancies
• Scholarships and financial aid
• Student hostels
• Mental-health support
• Skill development and internships
• Industry-linked education

The next major development will be the committee’s consultations and, subsequently, its one-month report to the Karnataka government.

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