Karnataka Quota Row: What Are Group C & D Categories, and What's the Definition of 'Locals'?

Bengaluru: Karnataka government has passed a bill mandating 100 percent quota for Kannadigas in the private sector, resulting in a lot of criticism from the industry.

Read to know what this bill covers, who all fall under Group C and Group D Categories and how are ‘locals’ defined…

Karnataka Reservation Bill: What All It Covers

Approved by the Karnataka Cabinet are several bills with respect to reservation. The bill seeks to reserve 50 per cent of management jobs and 75 per cent of non-management jobs for locals in the private sector. 

The Karnataka government is also contemplating 100 per cent reservation for locals in "C&D" grade government jobs. The bill is called the State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024.

The Bill drafted by the Labour Department claimed that jobs of industries operating in the state are going to the states of North India. 

The Bill states that industries that get infrastructure including land and water from the state should give reservations for jobs to the locals, and this has been approved in the cabinet meeting.

Who All Fall Under Group C And D Categories?

Group C:

Definition: Group C typically includes clerical and support staff positions within the government sector. These roles often require specific educational qualifications, such as a high school diploma or an associate degree.

Examples: Office clerks, typists, data entry operators, junior assistants, and other similar positions.

Group D:

Definition: Group D positions are generally the lowest tier of government jobs, often involving manual or semi-skilled labor. Educational qualifications for these roles are usually minimal.

Examples: Peons, sweepers, gardeners, security guards, and other similar roles.

Penalty For Companies That Fail To Prioritize Kannadigas

According to the bill, if the private companies fail to prioritise the Kannadigas for jobs in the state, a fine of amount Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 will be levied.

Not just this, Rs 100 will be collected from that particular company every day, until the local employer count reaches the one mentioned in the bill.

Who Are Defined As ‘Kannadigas’?

The draft bill has also clearly defined the ‘locals’ or ‘Kannadigas’. The bill states that a person who speaks Kannada, is NOT a Kannadiga.

Passing a nodal agency test and having been domiciled in the state of Karnataka for 15 years are mandatory conditions that must be met, for a person to qualify as a ‘Kannadiga’.