SC/ST quota medical seats in Karnataka see sharp decline after reconfiguration of reservation matrix

As Karnataka has reverted to the earlier reservation quantum for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, with cases against the increased reservation in recruitment being heard in the High Court of Karnataka, the number of medical seats for these communities has seen a decline.

As against 953 reserved seats for SCs and 392 for STs of the total 5,609 government seats in 2025-2026, the SC and ST reserved seats has come down to 906 and 182, respectively, of the total 6,045 in 2026-2027.

After the Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Services under the State) Act, 2022, came into effect, SC and ST students had 17% and 7% reservation, respectively, since the 2023-2024 academic year. However, with the High Court hearing the case pertaining to recruitment, the government reverted to the earlier 15% and 3% for SC and ST communities, respectively, from the 2026-2027 academic year.

The community estimates that with the reduction, STs are set to lose about 2,800 posts while SCs will lose about 1,400 in the ongoing recruitment, though the government has said that this number of posts will be kept in abeyance till the court ruling.

This follows a recent government decision to reduce the reservation after it started one of the largest recruitment drives with about 72,000 vacancies to be filled. In 2022, the then BJP government — based on recommendations from the H.N. Nagamohan Das Commission — had increased the SC reservation to 17% and the ST reservation to 7% based on their population. This led to an increase in the overall reservation to 56%, breaching the 50% cap set by the Supreme Court.

Acknowledging the decline, Minister for Scheduled Tribes Welfare T. Raghumurthy said that some people have miscalculated the total number of seats as against the available government seats. He said that of the total 15,495 seats across 75 medical colleges for the 2026-2027 academic year, 11,775 are allotted through counselling by the Karnataka Examinations Authority.

Devaraj T. Katur, president of Karnataka Rajya Nayakara Yuva Sene which is fighting against the reduction in quota, said that the reduced number of seats was an injustice to children from the community seeking higher education opportunities. “The State government, instead of blaming the BJP, should fight to retain the increased reservation. The 50% cap has been breached in Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. Karnataka should also implement reservation for SC/ST according to their population,” he said.

Minister for Scheduled Tribes Welfare T. Raghumurthy said that the government will wait for the Karnataka High Court ruling on the matter. “We are hopeful of a judgment in favour of increased reservation and it is expected to come soon. Several other States have given reservation based on population of SCs and STs. It is a fundamental right,” the Minister told The Hindu.

Former Chairperson of Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes Ravi Varma Kumar has been leading the legal efforts, he said, adding that there have been efforts from community leaders too in the legal battle.

Mr. Raghumurthy said that the Congress government has written to the Centre to include the enhanced reservation in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution, which would provide constitutional protection. Asked what was causing the delay, he said, “We feel that the BJP is delaying the process.”