Bill proposing 4 pc quota for Muslims in public contracts tabled in Karnataka Assembly
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Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government on Tuesday tabled a Bill in the Legislative Assembly to introduce a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in public contracts.
The Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was tabled by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil.
On Friday, the Cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act, reserving 4 per cent of contracts for Muslims in civil works valued up to Rs 2 crore and goods/services contracts up to Rs 1 crore. This proposal was announced by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the 2025-26 Budget, presented on March 7.
Currently, Karnataka provides reservations in civil works contracts for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) at 24 per cent, Other Backward Classes (OBC)–Category 1 at 4 per cent, and OBC–Category 2A at 15 per cent.
There had been demands to include Muslims under Category 2B of the OBCs with a 4 per cent reservation.
The BJP has called the Karnataka government’s move to provide a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in government contracts an "unconstitutional misadventure" and vowed to oppose it at all levels, including challenging it in court, until it is revoked.
The Bill presented on Tuesday further amends the KTPP Act, 1999, to implement the proposal outlined in the 2025-26 budget speech, according to its statement of objects and reasons.
The Bill aims to address unemployment among backward classes and promote their participation in government construction projects, reserving up to 4 per cent for individuals in Category 2B (Muslims) for works valued up to Rs 2 crore.
The Bill also provides for reservations among Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes in the procurement of goods and services, excluding construction works, in notified departments, for contracts valued up to Rs 1 crore.
It encourages their participation in such procurement to the extent of 17.5 per cent for persons belonging to SC, 6.95 per cent for those belonging to ST, 4 per cent for Category 1 of OBC, 15 per cent for Category 2A, and 4 per cent for Category 2B (Muslims).
The Bill stated that the proposed legislative measure involves no additional expenditure.
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Karnataka disburses 0% interest loans to 13,689 farmers this year amid funding constraints
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has reportedly disbursed zero-interest farm loans to 13,689 farmers in the current financial year, despite 1.73 lakh farmers across the state meeting the eligibility criteria.
Co-Operation Minister K.N. Rajanna attributed the limited loan distribution to a reduction in funds from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Deccan Herald reported on Wednesday.
Responding to a query by BJP MLC Prathap Simha Nayak, Rajanna stated, “Last year, we disbursed Rs 5,800 crore in farm loans. However, with NABARD slashing its subsidised loan for the agriculture sector by 58 percent, we were unable to provide loans to all farmers.”
Meanwhile, data presented before the House revealed that the state government granted loans only to 6,744 farmers, with a total disbursement of Rs 290.51 crore, DH added.
Rajanna expressed concern over farmers preferring to deposit their savings in commercial banks while seeking loans from co-operative societies.
The minister noted that farmers should understand that co-operative societies cannot print notes. “Co-operative societies have no other resources. Due to the shortage of funds, we cannot disburse the entire loan,” he added.
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