Karnataka govt. scarps minimum student admission criteria for higher educational institutions to grant minority tag

H.K. Patil
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In a major decision, the Karnataka government on Friday scrapped the criteria of a minimum number of students required from a minority community to grant the religious minority tag to higher education institutions.

At present, institutions offering higher education and technical education have to provide admission to 50% of students belonging to the minority religion to get the religious minority institution tag.

The relaxation of the rule would increase the number of non-minority students in the institutions run by minorities.

The State Cabinet scrapped the criteria as institutions run by Christians, Jains, Sikhs, and Parsis have been finding it difficult to admit 50% students from their respective communities in order to retain their minority institution status.

Briefing on the decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil said the decision was taken in accordance with Article 30 and the recommendation of the National Minority Commission. The tag would be given to PU colleges, and graduation and post-graduation institutions.

In March 2024, the government scrapped the criteria of the requirement of a minimum 25% of students belonging to that particular minority religion in schools.

The Opposition is expected to oppose this decision in the legislature session starting on December 9 in Belagavi.

World Bank loan

The Cabinet approved a ₹1,750 crore loan from the World Bank for the Higher Education Department to strengthen the infrastructure and quality of education in government colleges, diploma-granting institutions, and universities. The total project cost would be ₹2,500 crore and the State’s share ₹750 crore.

The project would facilitate upgrading laboratories, training of teachers, revision of curriculum, upskilling of knowledge for providing employment opportunities.