Karnataka Approves 4% Reservation for Muslim Contractors in Public Tenders

The Congress-led government plans to amend the KTPP Act to implement the policy, facing criticism from the BJP over alleged vote-bank politics.

The Karnataka Cabinet has approved a proposal to reserve 4% of public works contracts for Muslim contractors under the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act.
The reservation applies to government contracts valued up to ₹1 crore and will be introduced through an amendment to the KTPP Act during the ongoing Budget Session.
Critics, including BJP leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad and Tejasvi Surya, have called the move unconstitutional and accused the Congress of engaging in appeasement politics.
Supporters of the policy argue it mirrors reservations already provided to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other backward classes in government contracts.
The BJP has warned of potential economic and constitutional implications, with some leaders suggesting the policy could exacerbate social divisions.