After 37 years, Karnataka to bring back student elections in colleges

After a 37-year gap, student elections will return to colleges and universities in Karnataka from the 2026-27 academic year, marking a historic return of campus democracy in the state.

The Karnataka Cabinet has approved the reintroduction of student union elections, which were banned in 1989-90 following a series of violent incidents and clashes in educational institutions during the tenure of then Chief Minister Veerendra Patil.

The elections, however, will not be mandatory. Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said college managements will have to conduct elections if students want them, but cannot hold them if students choose not to.

“If students don't want it, they can decide not to have it. The management cannot decide. It is the students' choice,” he said.

The government has also decided that political parties and student organisations cannot contest the elections under their banners. Candidates must be enrolled students of the institution where they are contesting.

Students who are members of political or student organisations can contest, Parameshwara said, provided they do so independently.

“Candidates who are members of student organisations can contest as long as they do not do it under the banners of student political groups,” he said.

Under the proposed structure, each student union will have a president, two vice-presidents, a general secretary, two joint secretaries and a six-member executive committee. One vice-president, one joint secretary and two executive committee positions will be reserved for women.

The Cabinet has decided against caste-based reservations in student unions. Parameshwara said the government did not want to encourage caste-based elections among students.

The decision follows the recommendations of a Cabinet sub-committee headed by Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil. The committee visited colleges and universities before submitting its report, which formed the basis for the Cabinet’s decision.

The revival of student elections had been announced in the Karnataka government’s 2026-27 Budget. The elections will initially cover degree and pre-university colleges and universities, while schools will remain outside their scope.

Student elections have been absent from Karnataka’s campuses since 1989-90, when the government banned them amid concerns over violence and clashes between student groups. Parameshwara said the government wanted students to experience democratic processes and develop leadership qualities through participation in campus elections.

The detailed procedure for conducting the elections, including other modalities, is yet to be finalised.