The Karnataka government on Friday scrapped the 4 per cent quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC) Muslims and announced two new categories for reservation in jobs and education.
The announcement by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai comes just a month before assembly election is scheduled to be held in the southern state.
The 4 per cent OBC Muslim quota has been divided between the Vokkaligas and Lingayats.
Muslims eligible for quota have been categorised under economically weaker sections now.
“We have taken some important decisions,” Mr Bommai told reporters today. “A cabinet sub-committee recommended the changes in quota categories and we have done it,” he said.
Earlier, the quota break-up were as follows: Category 1 (Backward Classes) 4 per cent, Category 2A (Other Backward Classes, or OBCs) 15 per cent, Category 2B (Muslims) 4 per cent, Category 3A (Vokkaligas) 4 per cent, Category 3B (Lingayats including Panchamshali Lingayat, Marathas, Bunts, Christians) 5 per cent, SC 15 per cent, and Scheduled Tribes (ST) 3 per cent.
After the latest cabinet decision, the overall quota percentage is at 56 per cent, over the Supreme Court-imposed limit. The break-up is hence as follows: Category 1 (Backward Classes) 4 per cent, Category 2A (OBCs) 15 per cent, Category 2B none, Category 2C (Vokkaligas) 6 per cent, Category 2D (Lingayats including Panchamshali Lingayats, Marathas, Bunts, Christians) 7 per cent, SC 17 per cent and ST 7 per cent.
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