BENGALURU —

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has pledged to legally address the ongoing controversy surrounding the recruitment of Agriculture Officers, following an impromptu meeting with protesting students from the University of Agricultural Sciences (GKVK) on Tuesday.

The interaction took place just outside the venue of the 14th Bengaluru INDIA NANO 2026 conference. Spotting the demonstrators, Shivakumar invited the students to gather under the shade of a nearby tree to discuss their grievances and formally accept their memorandum.

The Root of the Conflict

At the center of the protests is a recent government notification aiming to fill over 900 vacancies for Agriculture Officer and Assistant Agriculture Officer positions.

Agriculture graduates are strongly opposing the current eligibility criteria, which allows candidates holding B.E. and B.Tech degrees in Biochemistry/Biotechnology  to apply for the specialized agricultural roles.

 Assurances and Next Steps

During the roadside discussion, the Chief Minister took the time to understand exactly where the recruitment process currently stands. He attributed the contentious eligibility guidelines to rule amendments enacted during the previous BJP administration.

Shivakumar assured the students that the current government is actively working to protect their career prospects.

“I have instructed senior officials to examine the matter and resolve it legally without affecting the employment opportunities of agriculture graduates,” the Chief Minister stated. He emphasized that the state government is deeply committed to tackling unemployment and ensuring that specialized graduates are not subjected to unfair competition for domain-specific jobs.

Urging the students to return to their studies, Shivakumar requested an immediate end to the demonstrations. “Please call off the protest. Our government is committed to reducing unemployment and we will ensure that your interests are protected,” he added.

IT-BT and E-Governance Minister Priyank Kharge was also present alongside the Chief Minister to hear the students' concerns during the interaction.