The Constitution of India
Article 371J
Special provisions with respect to State of Karnataka
(1) The President may, by order made with respect to the State of Karnataka, provide for any special responsibility of the Governor for—
(a) establishment of a separate development board for Hyderabad- Karnataka region with the provision that a report on the working of the board will be placed each year before the State Legislative Assembly;
(b) equitable allocation of funds for developmental expenditure over the said region, subject to the requirements of the State as a whole; and
(c) equitable opportunities and facilities for the people belonging to the said region, in matters of public employment, education and vocational training, subject to the requirements of the State as a whole.
(2) An order made under sub- clause (c) of clause (1) may provide for—
(a) reservation of a proportion of seats educational and vocational training institutions in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region for students who belong to that region by birth or by domicile; and (b) identification of posts or classes of posts under the State Government and in any body or organisation under the control of the State Government in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region and reservation of a proportion of such posts for persons who belong to that region by birth or by domicile and for appointment thereto by direct recruitment or by promotion or in any other manner as may be specified in the order.
Why this exists
The Hyderabad-Karnataka region (districts like Gulbarga, Bidar, Raichur, Koppal, Yadgir, and Bellary) was historically part of the princely state of Hyderabad before merging into Karnataka in 1956, and it lagged behind the rest of the state in education, jobs, and infrastructure. Local movements and the Nanjundappa Committee report (2002) highlighted this regional imbalance. To address it, Parliament inserted Article 371J through the 98th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2012, modeled on the older Article 371D for Andhra Pradesh, giving the Governor special constitutional powers to correct this developmental gap.
Common misconceptions
Myth: Article 371J gives the Hyderabad-Karnataka region full independence or separate statehood.
Fact: It only creates special development and reservation measures within Karnataka; the region remains fully part of the state.
Myth: The reservations under this Article are unlimited or override all other rules.
Fact: The Article says these measures must operate 'subject to the requirements of the State as a whole,' meaning they must be balanced against the needs of the entire state, not treated as absolute.