Bengaluru, Aug. 15 -- Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced a new initiative called "Vidyarthi Sahayahasta" aimed at expanding access to professional education for students from rural government schools.

Speaking during the Independence Day celebration programme, he said that under the scheme, students who have studied in rural government schools from Class I to Class X will be provided 7.5 per cent reservation within the existing 15 per cent rural reservation for admission to professional courses.

The Chief Minister said the initiative is intended to further expand access to quality professional higher education, including medical and engineering courses, for students from rural backgrounds.

Government officials stated that...