Karnataka government raises job vacancies to 72,186, sets six-month deadline for recruitment

The Karnataka government has increased the number of posts available for direct recruitment to 72,186 from the earlier announced 56,432. A circular issued after the last Cabinet meeting on Wednesday mandates that the entire recruitment process, including issuing appointment orders, be completed within six months.

Of the total 72,186 posts across 51 departments, 40,009 have received approval from the Finance Department since 2023-2024. The remaining 32,177 posts are reserved for the Kalyana Karnataka region under Article 371 J, where the Finance Department has permitted filling 80% of vacant positions.

According to the Second Administrative Reforms Commission, Karnataka has 8.16 lakh sanctioned posts, of which about 36% (2.94 lakh) are vacant across 43 departments. The government also employs about 70,492 personnel on an outsourced basis.

Public recruitment in the state had been stalled since 2023 due to litigation over reservation policies. Cases are pending in the Karnataka High Court challenging the increase in reservation quota from the Supreme Court-mandated 50% to 56%. Nomadic communities have also challenged the internal reservation matrix for Scheduled Castes. While some notifications have been issued by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) and Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), appointment orders have not been issued in most cases, or have been issued conditionally subject to court decisions.

The reservation issue was partially resolved after the Cabinet agreed to revert the quota for Scheduled Castes from 17% to 15% and for Scheduled Tribes from 7% to 3%, bringing the overall reservation back to 50%. The internal reservation within the 15% Scheduled Castes quota has also been announced.

The government has also provided age relaxation of up to five years for candidates whose careers were affected by delays over the past six years, including those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Job aspirants have welcomed the move. Mysuru-based M. Nagasunder said the delay had caused intense anxiety and urged the government to provide consolidated information about department-wise and cadre-wise vacancies to help candidates prepare.

The circular from the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms appoints two senior officers to monitor the recruitment process: an Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Development Commissioner for 17 departments, and an Additional Chief Secretary for the remaining 34 departments. Government sources said that departmental heads were previously responsible, but delays occurred when they failed to respond to KEA or KPSC queries on roster and reservation issues. The new officers are expected to ensure smooth coordination.

All recruitment notifications must be issued within two months, the examination process completed within four months, and appointment orders handed over within six months.