Karnataka Cabinet hikes quota for minorities in housing schemes from 10% to 15%

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS

The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday (June 19, 2025) approved a proposal to increase the reservation from 10% to 15% for minorities under various State government housing schemes.

Briefing the Cabinet decisions after the meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil said the move was based on the disproportionately high number of houseless individuals among minority communities in both urban and rural areas. Muslims form the bulk of the minority population in Karnataka.

Norm in Centre

The Law Minister pointed out that the Centre had issued guidelines and it had already provides 15% allocation for minorities, and Karnataka was following it. Minority communities have long been requesting the hike in quota in the housing schemes, he added.

The decision will apply to all housing schemes implemented by different departments, including Housing and Urban Development, across the State.

While the opposition BJP criticised it as “appeasement politics”, Mr. Patil said the decision showed the government’s commitment to equitable housing. “’Housing for All’ is the key slogan of the Congress government, and we are committed to ensuring that every citizen has access to a home,” he said. Many houseless individuals belong to downtrodden communities and minorities, and the decision to increase the quota reflects this ground reality, he said.

“The government is firm in its stand that all houseless individuals, regardless of their community, should be provided with housing,” Mr. Patil said.

Defending the decision, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said, “There is a large urban population, and many minorities and poor people are part of it.”

In contracts

Thursday’s decision was followed by the government’s proposal to extend quota benefits for Muslims in contract allocations, indicating a bigger push for minorities in welfare initiatives. The State legislature passed the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aimed to provide a 4% quota for Muslims in government contracts of under ₹2 crore.

The BJP legislators was strongly opposed the Bill. After returning it twice, the Governor has forwarded the Bill for President’s assent.

Published - June 19, 2025 06:34 pm IST