RTE quota for SC/ST students extended up to class 10 in Karnataka

Bengaluru: In a major relief to SC/ST students admitted under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, the Karnataka govt has directed schools to extend their quota up to class 10.

The move follows an announcement by chief minister Siddaramaiah in the state budget on March 6. According to the directive, SC/ST students, who studied in class 8 during the 2025-26 academic year under the RTE quota, will now be permitted to continue in classes 9 and 10 in the same schools under the Act.

In a communication, the department of school education instructed all district deputy directors (administration) to ensure that school heads implement the order without delay.

Officials are directed to promote eligible students to class 9 during the 2026-27 academic year and continue the benefit into class 10 the following year.

The govt has also clarified that if parents had already paid fees for class 9 admissions in the same school, the amount must be refunded.

The order also states that even in cases where transfer certificates are already issued to SC/ST students, they should be allowed to continue in the same institution if it has classes 9 and 10 and the parents are willing to retain their children there.