The Karnataka state government announced that student union elections in colleges and universities will be held again from the upcoming academic year, ending a ban that lasted more than two decades.
Unlike earlier arrangements, the revived polls will not include any caste‑based reservation. Instead, a specific number of seats will be earmarked exclusively for women candidates, a move aimed at improving gender balance in campus leadership.
Education officials said the decision is intended to train students for future leadership roles and to reinforce democratic values within academic institutions, which have long been deprived of formal student representation.
The policy shift follows a broader national conversation about affirmative action and gender equity in higher education. Karnataka’s education department will issue detailed guidelines on seat allocation, nomination procedures and voting mechanisms before the first elections are scheduled.
Stakeholders, including university administrators and student groups, have been invited to submit feedback on the implementation plan. The government has pledged to monitor the process closely to ensure fairness and to address any concerns about representation.
