Bengaluru, September 9, 2026: The Karnataka government has proposed a 15% horizontal reservation for rural students in government seats for professional educational courses, in a move aimed at improving access to higher education for students from rural areas.

The proposal is contained in draft amendments to the Karnataka Selection of Candidates for Admission to Government Seats in Professional Educational Institutions Rules, 2006, notified by the Higher Education Department on September 5. The draft is currently open for public feedback and has not yet become a final rule.

Proposed 15% Quota to Be Split Into Two Categories

Under the draft amendment, the proposed 15% rural reservation would be divided into two horizontal quotas of 7.5% each.

The first 7.5% would be for eligible rural students who studied from Class 1 to Class 10 in government schools or government pre-university colleges located in rural areas of Karnataka.

The second 7.5% would cover eligible students who completed Classes 1 to 10 in schools or educational institutions located in rural areas, irrespective of whether those institutions are government-run or privately managed.

Proposed Reservation Structure

Category	Proposed reservation
Rural students from government schools/PU colleges	7.5%
Students who studied in rural institutions, government or private	7.5%
Total proposed rural reservation	15%

The reservation is described as horizontal, meaning it operates across existing reservation categories rather than creating a separate vertical category.

Which Courses Could Be Covered?

The proposal concerns government seats in professional educational institutions. This could have implications for students seeking admission to professional programmes such as engineering, medicine and other professional courses through the state’s admission and counselling systems.

The draft amendment specifically relates to the rules governing admission to government seats in professional educational institutions.

Why Has Karnataka Proposed the Rural Quota?

The move is intended to address differences in educational opportunities between rural and urban students.

Students studying outside major cities may have comparatively limited access to coaching facilities, specialised academic resources and other preparation opportunities for highly competitive professional courses. The proposed reservation is intended to provide rural students with greater access to government seats in professional education.

The proposal also follows the state’s broader efforts to improve educational opportunities for students from rural backgrounds.

Draft Rules Open for Public Feedback

The proposed amendment is not yet final. The Karnataka government has invited objections and suggestions from people who may be affected by the proposed changes.

The public-feedback window will remain open for 15 days from publication of the draft in the Official Gazette. The government will consider the responses before deciding on the final rules.

The proposed legislation is titled the Karnataka Selection of Candidates for Admission to Government Seats in Professional Educational Institutions (Amendment) Rules, 2026 and has been framed under Section 14 of the Karnataka Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Capitation Fee) Act, 1984.

When Will the New Reservation Take Effect?

The proposed rules will come into effect from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette after the amendment is finalised.

Therefore, students should not yet treat the proposed 15% rural reservation as a confirmed admission entitlement for upcoming counselling rounds. Candidates should wait for the final government notification and the corresponding admission guidelines issued by the relevant authorities.

What Rural Students Should Know

Students who believe they may qualify under the proposed rural reservation should keep their educational records ready, particularly documents establishing their schooling history from Class 1 to Class 10 and the location and nature of the institutions attended.

However, the exact documentation and eligibility verification process will depend on the final rules and subsequent admission notifications.

Key Highlights

• State: Karnataka
• Proposal: 15% horizontal reservation in government seats
• Target group: Eligible rural students
• First category: 7.5% for students educated in rural government schools/government PU colleges
• Second category: 7.5% for students educated in rural institutions, government or private
• Area: Professional educational admissions
• Status: Draft proposal
• Public feedback: 15 days from publication in the Official Gazette
• Effective date: After finalisation and Gazette publication

What It Could Mean for Karnataka Students

If approved in its proposed form, the policy could provide a significant additional pathway for rural students seeking admission to professional courses. By dividing the proposed reservation between students from rural government institutions and students from rural institutions more broadly, the draft seeks to address different educational backgrounds within Karnataka’s rural population.

For now, however, the 15% rural reservation remains a proposal, and students should rely on the final government notification and official admission guidelines before making counselling or course-selection decisions.