Student union polls to be held without caste quota, but with reserved seats for women from this academic year in Karnataka
Elections to student unions in colleges and universities in Karnataka, which had been banned over two decades ago, will be revived from this academic year to train students for leadership roles and uphold democratic values.
Student union elections are set to resume in colleges and universities across Karnataka from the 2026-2027 academic year, according to Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara. The elections aim to provide students with leadership training and promote democratic values, as previously banned for over two decades. Reservation for women will be implemented in the elections, but no other quotas, including caste-based reservations, will be allowed.
The election process will be entirely decided by the students themselves, even if college management opposes the idea, as announced by Parameshwara after a Cabinet meeting. Elected positions in the student unions will include a president, two vice-presidents, one general secretary, two joint secretaries, and a six-member executive committee, all of which will have at least one female representative.
Political party affiliations will not be permitted for contestants, and those attempting to do so will be disqualified. The first phase of elections will take place in PU and degree colleges, with the second phase covering universities throughout the state. This initiative was announced in the 2026 State Budget by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, lifting the 37-year ban on student union elections since 1989.
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