Karnataka's Army Training Scheme Exclusively for Minority Students Draws Controversy

• •Karnataka government invites tenders for Army training exclusively for minority students.
• •Critics claim the program promotes vote-bank politics and excludes non-minority students.
• •The tender was issued on November 2, with a submission deadline of November 20.

The Karnataka Congress government has invited tenders for a 60-day Army training program exclusively for minority students for the 2026-27 academic year. This initiative, issued by the Directorate of Minorities, has sparked criticism regarding the exclusion of Hindu and other non-minority students. Critics, including BJP MLC Dr. Ravi C.T., argue that this program promotes vote-bank politics and raises concerns about national security and the use of public funds. The tender was announced on November 2, 2026, with a pre-bid meeting held on November 6 and a submission deadline of November 20. The government has not clarified the rationale behind restricting the training to minority communities, leading to further scrutiny of its intentions. This is not the first instance of the Congress government implementing schemes that appear to favor minority communities, as similar actions have been noted in the past.