Overview

• The Karnataka government has amended the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act to introduce a 4% reservation for minority contractors, including Muslims, in public tenders up to ₹1 crore.
• Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar clarified that the policy is inclusive of all minorities and backward classes, not exclusively Muslims, and mirrors similar provisions previously granted to SC/ST communities.
• Critics, including BJP leaders, have labeled the move as unconstitutional and accused the Congress-led government of engaging in appeasement politics for electoral gains.
• Chief Minister Siddaramaiah allocated ₹42,018 crore in the state budget for SC/ST welfare and emphasized the broader inclusion of marginalized groups under the new policy.
• The BJP has warned that such policies could set concerning precedents, with some leaders claiming it undermines the constitutional principle of equality.