The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday approved amendments to relevant rules for giving primacy to Kannadigas in jobs under Group C and D category (blue colour) in the private sector.
The cabinet also cleared textile and garment policy 2019-2024 with an investment outlay of Rs 10,000 crore and aiming to generate employment to 5,00,000 people.
"We have approved amendments to the Karnataka Industrial Employment (Standing Orders), Rules 1961, to give priority to Kannadigas in C and D category of jobs in the industries in the state," Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said.
Briefing reporters here on the cabinet meet, he said under the amended rules, five per cent jobs in the private sector would be reserved for the disabled.
"As we cannot mandate things, we have said, preference should be given to Kannadigas. It will be (legally) questionable otherwise," he added.
Noting that the proposal for giving preference to Kannadigas in private jobs was made by the then Congress government in 2016, he said "We have given approval for it today."