Minority welfare in Karnataka Budget: Formal education proposed in madrasas, reimbursement of 50% of professional college fee

While announcing that minority youth will be encouraged to launch new start-ups through the Karnataka Minority Development Corporation, the Budget has proposed to start a regional centre of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) in the Haj Bhavan. This centre will offer various degree and post-graduate degree courses, thereby benefiting minority students, who are deprived of degree education.

Focusing on making higher education affordable to minority students, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has proposed to reimburse 50% of the fees for admissions availed through KEA to professional courses. 

Presenting the State Budget for 2025-2026, the Chief Minister announced an increase of ₹10 lakh in the amount given to minority students under the National Foreign Student Scholarship. As per the budget announcement, this amount will be increased from ₹20 lakh to ₹30 lakh. In 2024, the Congress  government had restored the minority student scholarship scheme that was scrapped by the erstwhile BJP government. 

While announcing that minority youth will be encouraged to launch new start-ups through the Karnataka Minority Development Corporation, the Budget has proposed to start a regional centre of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) in the Haj Bhavan. This centre will offer various degree and post-graduate degree courses, thereby benefiting minority students, who are deprived of degree education.

Besides, self-defence skills training will be provided to 25,000 girls studying in 169 residential schools and colleges run by the Directorate of Minorities. While 15 women’s colleges will be constructed in vacant plots of Waqf institutions this year, another 16 new women’s colleges will be started next year.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has termed the boost for minorities as ‘appeasement at its peak’.

To prepare students in madrasas for SSLC examinations through National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), the government has proposed to provide formal education along with religious education in madrasas. The required classroom facilities, such as computers, smart boards and other necessary basic infrastructure, will be provided to the madrasas, according to the Budget.

The State announced that commerce stream will be started in 62 Morarji Desai Residential Schools for minorities in which PU classes were started in 2023-24.