Thousands of aspirants rally in Dharwad for unfilled Karnataka Govt jobs

Hundreds of civil service aspirants, led by the All Karnataka Students’ Association, staged a peaceful protest in Dharwad on Thursday demanding that the state government expedite recruitment for more than 10,000 pending vacancies, including police constable posts, and extend the application age limit to 40 years.

The demonstration underscored Karnataka’s mounting youth unemployment crisis, with the rate among 18- to 29-year-olds estimated at 18.5%. Protesters said repeated delays in recruitment notifications—often due to court cases and procedural disputes—have left thousands of candidates in limbo. Many noted that they have dedicated years to exam preparation without seeing real opportunities materialize.

The Congress government, which came to power in 2023, had promised 2.5 lakh jobs during its tenure. However, the promise was not fulfilled and this shortfall has deepened frustration, particularly in Dharwad, once a hub of competitive exam preparation. Local libraries and study centers are reporting dwindling attendance as candidates abandon their studies or return home.

Protest leaders warned that unless the backlog of vacancies is addressed and age norms relaxed, Karnataka risks alienating an entire generation of job seekers. Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Basanagouda R. Patil criticized the government on social media, accusing it of “failing in its promise” and offering “trivial justifications” for the delay.

Aspirants say they are now caught in a state of uncertainty, unable to secure government jobs or shift to alternative careers. They urged the state to issue timely notifications and complete recruitment within fixed deadlines, stressing that the government must not jeopardize their futures through inaction.