Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah announced that the state government will enact the Rohith Vemula Act to address caste-based discrimination and harassment faced by students in higher education institutions. The announcement was made while presenting the Karnataka Budget for the financial year 2026–27 in the Legislative Assembly.
The proposed legislation is aimed at preventing “academic and social harassment” of students on the basis of caste across universities and colleges in the state. According to the Chief Minister, the Act will apply to all government, private and deemed universities in Karnataka.
During the budget speech, Siddaramaiah said, “The Rohith Vemula Act will be enacted to prevent atrocities on caste lines on students across all government, private, and deemed universities in the state.”
The proposed law is named after Rohith Vemula, a PhD scholar at University of Hyderabad who died by suicide on January 17, 2016. His death had triggered nationwide debates and protests over caste discrimination in higher education institutions.
The state government has stated that the legislation is intended to create a safer and more inclusive environment for students belonging to marginalised communities, including Dalits and Adivasis, who often report discrimination in educational institutions.
Student Union Elections To Return
Along with the announcement of the Rohith Vemula Act, the Karnataka government also declared that student union elections will be conducted in colleges and universities in the state.
Siddaramaiah said the move is intended to encourage student participation and leadership in educational institutions. He stated, “Student union elections will be conducted in colleges and universities to foster leadership, responsibility, and democratic values among students.”
The proposal marks a significant policy shift as student union elections had not been conducted in many institutions in the state for several years. The government had earlier formed a panel to examine the possibility of reintroducing student elections before making the announcement in the budget.
Other Key Announcements In The Karnataka Budget
The 2026–27 Karnataka Budget presented by Siddaramaiah has a total outlay of about ₹4.48 lakh crore and includes several development and welfare initiatives.
Among the announcements, the Chief Minister said that all gram panchayats in the state will be renamed “Mahatma Gandhi Gram Panchayats.”
The budget also proposed measures related to digital regulation and welfare, including a plan to ban social media access for children below the age of 16 in the state as part of efforts to address concerns about the impact of social media on minors.
– Magizh
