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. 

Push back

Sources in the department said Ministers and representatives from the Industries Department have argued that Karnataka is already under pressure to remain ‘investment-friendly’ and that imposing reservation requirements on private establishments could send the ‘wrong message’ to businesses. They have pointed out that for startups and smaller firms, meeting a fixed quota may not always be easy, particularly where roles require specific technical or physical skills and that this could discourage hiring.  

The education quota has also drawn objections. The Bill initially proposed 10% and later revised to 5% reservation course-wise not at the institution level. Ministers have argued that this could reduce flexibility for colleges, mostly in competitive and limited-seat programmes such as medicine, engineering and law.  

Another major point of disagreement is whether Karnataka needs a separate law at all. Some Ministers have argued that disability rights are already addressed under the central Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which provides for accessibility, non-discrimination and reasonable accommodation, and that the State should focus on stricter implementation of the existing law instead of introducing a fresh legal framework. 

Questions were also raised about the State’s capacity to enforce the proposed law, which would require monitoring compliance across thousands of private establishments and educational institutions. However, if implemented, Karnataka will lead, becoming the only state to do so.  

Defending the bill, Labour Minister Santosh Lad, said concerns over the reservation percentage can be addressed. He said the proposed quota could be revised to 2% or 3% for both education and employment, if needed. 

“Article 14 guarantees equality. How can we deny that? We are not saying posts must be filled at any cost. We are saying persons with disabilities should be given priority and reservations must be there to ensure that implementation across private companies,” he said, adding that he would continue to try to ensure the Bill is passed.