The Karnataka Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Education and Employment (Draft) Bill, 2025, one of the State’s most ambitious attempts to mandate inclusion in private employment and higher education, is likely to come up before the cabinet soon. Released by the Labour Department in November, 2025, the bill proposes 5% reservation for persons with disabilities in private companies with 20 or more employees, and reservation in educational courses.
However, even before reaching the cabinet, the Bill has run into resistance from within the government, with many Ministers questioning its practicality and implementation. At the centre of the opposition is the proposed reservation in private companies, with Ministers arguing that making it mandatory could create compliance pressure for businesses and lead to push back from the industry.
