Karnataka Government Announces Major Age Relaxation for Job Aspirants
The Karnataka Cabinet has taken a significant step to support job seekers by approving a five-year age relaxation for all candidates applying for government positions. This decision, made during a Cabinet meeting held on Thursday evening, aims to benefit individuals who have been impacted by the prolonged delays in government recruitments across the state over recent years.
Addressing Recruitment Delays and Internal Reservation Issues
The move comes in response to a series of setbacks in the recruitment process. In November 2024, the Karnataka government had frozen all recruitments pending the report from a one-man commission led by Justice Nagamohan Das, which was tasked with examining internal reservation policies. Although the Cabinet had previously agreed to a three-year age relaxation in September of last year, the unresolved internal reservation matter prompted the government to extend this to five years.
Following the commission's report, the state legislature passed the Karnataka SC Sub-Classification Act, 2025 during the winter session. However, its implementation has been delayed after the Governor returned the Bill earlier this month, seeking further clarifications. This has contributed to the ongoing hold on recruitments, despite the government having cleared around 24,000 jobs that were approved by the Finance Department.
Impact on Job Vacancies and Aspirants
According to official government data, there are currently more than four lakh vacancies across various government departments, universities, boards, and corporations in Karnataka. The age relaxation is expected to provide relief to many aspirants who have been waiting for opportunities due to these administrative hurdles.
The key points of the decision include:
- A five-year increase in the age limit for all government job applicants.
- Targeted support for candidates affected by recruitment delays over the past few years.
- An effort to mitigate the impact of the delayed implementation of the 2025 Internal Reservation Act.
AI-Based Initiatives for Education and Technology
In addition to the age relaxation, the Cabinet has greenlit the implementation of the Artificial Intelligence-based Karnataka Advanced Attendance Management System (KAAMS). This system will be used for all teaching and non-teaching staff within the Department of School Education and Literacy, aiming to streamline attendance tracking and improve administrative efficiency.
Furthermore, the Cabinet cleared the establishment of a Centre for Applied AI for Tech Solutions, with a total outlay of Rs 20 crore. This Centre of Excellence will be set up at the KEONICS facility in Bengaluru's HSR Layout, focusing on advancing AI applications in technology solutions.
These initiatives underscore the Karnataka government's dual focus on addressing immediate concerns of job aspirants while investing in technological advancements for future governance and education systems.
